July 19: The farmers of Morang are relieved after receiving chemical fertilizers including DAP and urea for sowing new lot of crop. The fertilizers will also be useful for the paddy which they planted recently.

The state-owned Salt Trading Corporation Limited, Biratnagar has distributed 2,125 metric tons of DAP and 1,400 metric tons of urea to the farmers. During last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday alone, 4,000 sacks (200 tons) of DAP fertilizer were distributed to the farmers.

Bhuvaneshwar Yadav, a farmer of Gadhi Rural Municipality of Sunsari is excited after receiving DAP fertilizer during the time of p lanting paddy.

Among the fertilizers that came to Chandradaya Agricultural Cooperative, he got 6 sacks of fertilizer for his two bigaha land.

“We got government-subsidized fertilizer and now we don’t have to use low grade Indian fertilizer. More rice will be produced this time,” he said.

Similarly, Suren Prasad Mehta, a farmer of Sunsari Chitaha, also said that he is relieved to get fertilizer amid the rush for sowing.

 “We would have to run in all directions seeking fertilizer if it was not obtained. This time, we got fertilizer early and now we are relieved.”

Nir Bahadur Parajuli, a farmer of Kanepokhari Rural Municipality-1 Hoklabari of Morang, received DAP and urea from the village's agricultural cooperative for planting crop in one bigha of land. He and other farmers of that area are delighted after receiving the government-subsidized fertilizer.

According to Radheshyam Chaudhary, head of the Provincial Office of Salt Trading Corporation, Biratnagar, the Biratnagar office distributed the fertilizer in Morang, Sunsari, Dhankuta, Tehrathum, Bhojpur and Sankhuwasabha. Fertilizer is being distributed in Jhapa, Ilam, Panchthar and Taplejung from the company's branch in Birtamod, Jhapa.

Likewise, fertilizer is being distributed in Okhaldhunga, Khotang, Solukhumbu and Udayapur from Siraha's Lahan branch as it is close to Lahan.

The contribution of paddy to the GDP of Nepal is 7 percent and 20 percent to the total agricultural production. The government has been giving a subsidy of Rs 4,500 per bag (50 kg) of DAP fertilizer.

 In Province 1, 70,000 metric tons of fertilizer is required in one season. Chaudhary said that the fertilizer that came under the quota given by the government for distribution is now being distributed in 14 districts of Province 1.

Currently, the Salt Trading Corporation is distributing fertilizers based on the quota allocated to municipalities by the Provincial Fertilizer Committee. Fertilizer is being distributed through cooperatives consisting of dealers and farmers recommended by the fertilizer committee formed in the rural municipality. Almost 700,000 metric tons of fertilizer is required in Nepal annually for agriculture.

According to the data of the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture, 83,300 hectares of paddy cultivation is done in Morang and 64,000 hectares in Jhapa of province 1. Similarly, paddy is planted in 53,000 hectares in Sunsari, 8,737 in Taplejung, 13,851 in Sankhuwasabha, 1,525 in Solukhambu, 9,200 in Panchthar, 14,815 in Ilam, 18,000 in Bhojpur, 10,175 in Tehrathum, 7,950 in Dhankuta, 13,300 in Udaipur, 4,400 in Okhaldhunga and 12,893 hectares in Khotang.