Government Initiates Tender Process for Chemical Fertilizers Worth Rs. 15 Billion Ahead of Paddy Plantation Season

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) has commenced the tender bidding process for the importation of chemical fertilizers, aiming to ensure the timely availability of agricultural inputs and prevent potential shortages during the upcoming paddy plantation season.

In a meeting held on Sunday, MoALD announced the allocation of Rs 15 billion for the procurement of chemical fertilizers for the forthcoming plantation season. Secretary of MoALD, Govinda Prasad Sharma, revealed that the ministry has invited bids from interested firms to supply the specified quantities of fertilizers.

The ministry plans to procure a total of 260,000 tons of chemical fertilizers, including 210,000 tons of urea, 97,865 tons of DAP, and 13,951 tons of potash. This proactive approach in initiating the tender process before the announcement of the annual budget aims to mitigate potential delays in fertilizer imports for wheat production.

Despite yearly assurances from the government to provide agricultural inputs on time, farmers have regularly encountered fertilizer shortages during the primary plantation season. Minister for Agriculture, Jwala Kumari Sah, emphasized the necessity of establishing separate guidelines for chemical fertilizer procurement to address issues contributing to distribution delays.

The government, which annually allocates subsidies exceeding Rs 32 billion for chemical fertilizers, imported approximately 426,007 metric tons worth about Rs 40.5 billion in the fiscal year 2022/23. Although promises to establish chemical fertilizer factories have been recurrent in budget announcements, tangible progress in this regard remains elusive, with recent initiatives such as Nepal Oil Corporation's plan to establish a fertilizer factory yet to materialize.