Farmers face fertilizer shortage despite government spending billions on imports

KATHMANDU, July 3: Nepal spent nearly Rs 50 billion importing chemical fertilizers in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, yet farmers continue to struggle to access supplies during the peak paddy transplantation season. Despite billions of rupees spent on imports of urea, DAP and potash, recurring shortages have exposed weaknesses in the government’s supply and distribution system.