Even though the support price of Chaite rice is fixed, the farmers are in trouble when the government-owned food system and trading company does not buy it
For the current financial year 2081/82, the government has fixed Rs 2,800 69 paisa (minimum support price) per quintal of Chaite paddy with 18% moisture content. The government has decided to maintain the minimum support price based on the weight loss of Chaite rice with more than 18 percent moisture at the rate of 1,200 grams per quintal for one percent moisture.
Although the government fixed the support price of Chaite paddy on time, the farmers did not get the price when they sold it. Farmers get only 16 to 17 hundred rupees per quintal while selling paddy. If the traders do not buy, the government has claimed that it will buy it, but it has not been done as promised. As a result, farmers have complained that they are in trouble. "We were aware of the minimum support price set by the government, but when we sold paddy, we got only 600 to 650 rupees for a pratiman (40 kg)," said Jhapaka
Kisan Netraprasad Adhikari said, 'The current price has not raised the cost. Now even if the field is kept barren, he says that after getting cheap rice, traders come to buy it at home.
Tikaram Limbu, a farmer from Jhapa, also said that paddy was sold for 600 rupees.
His complaint is that the price of rice has decreased by half compared to last year.
"Even if the price is 600 rupees now, there is talk that the price will drop to 500 rupees," he said, "In such a situation, there is confusion as to whether to sell paddy." The cost does not rise when the rice is sold, there is no place to keep the balance if we do not sell it. He said that the farmers did not get the price when the government did not buy Chaite paddy.
Compared to last year, the government has increased the purchase price of chaite paddy this year. For the financial year 2080/81, the support price of chaite rice with 18 percent moisture content was set at 2,777 rupees 28 paisa per quintal, but now it has been increased to 2,800 rupees 69 paisa per quintal. But the farmer complains that nothing has been done except setting the price.
On the one hand, chaite rice is being bought and sold at a very low price. On the other hand, the paddy is not sold and has become rotten. When the government just set the price and let it go, the farmers have become frustrated," said Sarita Bhusal, general secretary of the All Nepal Kisan Federation, "The food management and trading companies should buy paddy, but they only made preparations and did not buy the paddy, so the farmers did not get the price. The farmers were forced to sell at the price of kaudi.'
She said that the minimum support price is fixed based on formality but without making arrangements to purchase, it is a work that makes the farmers weak, discouraged and disappointed. The federation has also demanded that the farmers should purchase chaite rice at the specified price and receive an amount equal to the support price of the rice sold at a lower price than the specified price. "The government is delaying the purchase of paddy, making excuses and if they do not pay the full amount equal to the fixed price, the rice producing farmers will be forced to take strict action," said Bhusal.
In the absence of price for Chait paddy, the government has announced that it will become self-sufficient in rice through this paddy. Through the budget of the financial year 2082/83, the government is preparing to promote Chaite paddy cultivation in order to become self-sufficient in rice within two years. For that, there is a plan to conduct Chaite paddy cultivation promotion program in 22 districts of Terai and Inner Madhesh. It is estimated that an additional 1.2 million tons of rice will be produced.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, chait paddy is cultivated in 120 thousand hectares. The productivity of chait paddy is 5 tons per hectare. Annual production is 500,000 tons. But the product has not got the market, the price. Ganeshchandra Timalsina, president of the Nepal Farmers' Federation, said that the first priority of the government should be to buy rice to increase rice production and encourage farmers. But in the eastern district, farmers are facing problems, he said. Along with Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, the farmers of Chitwan have also complained of not getting the price, he said, "The farmers have produced good paddy, but they have not received the price." The food management and trading company should make arrangements for immediate purchase.
Ramesh Acharya, chief executive officer of the food management and trading company, which is planning to purchase Chaite paddy, said. Chait rice is more wet, it has to be dried, food does not have that facility. The demand for paddy is also low, they will only make chiura,'' Acharya said, 'However, discussions are being held with ministries and organizations regarding the purchase of chaite paddy.'
According to Acharya, due to wet chaite paddy, there is a compulsion to sell it at the trader's price. In the case of dry rice, the demand of the market (merchant) is more. The price is also higher. "Farmers also try to sell to traders rather than the government," he said.
