KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 22
The government has fixed the support price of paddy.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the support price of paddy was fixed at the Cabinet meeting held on September 14.
According to the ministry, the price of coarse paddy has been fixed at Rs 2,752 per quintal and medium variety at Rs 2,902 per quintal for the current fiscal. According to Joint-secretary and Spokesperson for the ministry Prakash Sanjel, the new support price of paddy has increased by Rs 17 per quintal compared to the previous year. Last year, the government had fixed the support price of paddy before planting Asare paddy. Also, last year, coarse paddy was priced at Rs 2,735 per quintal and medium variety paddy at Rs 2,885 per quintal.
The government has been fixing the minimum support price of coarse and medium variety of paddy every year arguing that entrepreneurs will buy paddy at arbitrary price if the price is not fixed on time. Meanwhile, the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has stated that the required quantity of sugar is available for the upcoming festive season. The department has stated that there is enough stock of sugar for three months.
Issuing a notice today, the department has urged consumers not to be worried as there is sufficient stock of sugar in the market. "Depending on the import ratio and the quantity consumed, there is sugar available for three months in the market. There is no reason for consumers to be anxious as the import process is regular and there is enough sugar in the open market," the department said, while urging consumers not to stock up unnecessarily.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 23 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
