Money
Fertiliser stocks hit rock bottom
The demand for chemical fertiliser in the district has shot up after existing stocks in the Agriculture Inputs Company (AIC) office in Birgunj was depleted.Shankar Acharya
The demand for chemical fertiliser in the district has shot up after existing stocks in the Agriculture Inputs Company (AIC) office in Birgunj was depleted.
The office has not been able to supply fertiliser to farmers and fill its stock due to the local elections in Province No 2 that ended on September 18.
According to a company source, demand of urea has increased in the districts like Rautahat, Sarlahi, Dhanusha and Chitwan. Ajay Kumar Srivastava, chief of the office, said that a new consignment of fertiliser had arrived at the Sirsiya Dry Port. “It could not be transported to the office warehouse due to the local election.” According to him, around 3,500 tonnes of urea had arrived at the dry port. He said that the lack of workers added to the problem as the fertiliser shipment could not be unloaded.
The fertiliser consignment was supposed to reach Biratnagar through Jogbani in India but was rerouted to the Birgunj dry port instead as the railway tracks had been damaged by the August flooding. The tracks are yet to be repaired.
Of the total consignment that has reached Birgunj, 2,000 tonnes of urea has been sent to Biratnagar by Tuesday. The remaining amount will reach the AIC warehouse in Birgunj by next Wednesday.
The company uses local contractors to transport the fertilisers from the dry ports to Birgunj. According to Srivastava, fertiliser will be distributed to districts based on demand.
This year, demand for urea dropped due to the local level election. “There were no pressure from the farmers as they were busy in the election campaigns,” according to officials. “Now farmers are making frequent visit as the election has ended.” The office has assured farmers that it will provide fertilisers as soon as it arrives,” said Srivastava.
The government has also asked the Indian government to provide additional fertiliser through government to government deal. The fertiliser quota promised by the Indian government is likely to arrive by Dashain. He said that 10,000 tonnes of fertiliser, including urea and DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) will arrive within the next few weeks.” DAP is being brought from Paradeep Phosphate of Odisha, India, whereas urea is supplied by Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser in Assam.