Farmers protesting to demand payment for milk

At the same time, on Thursday, farmers blocked 33 places including the highway, said Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, president of Nepal Farmers' Federation and National Farmers' Network.

'As part of the protest program for non-payment of farmers, we have held a demonstration for 1 to 2 hours in all the 7 provinces of Chapagaon, Sanga, Bhaktapur, Hetaunda, Chandranigahpur, from east to west,' he said, 'The farmers' protest and agitation program has spread throughout the country. Now we don't back until payment.'

With 15 associations/organizations of farmers protesting, the top leaders of various political parties are meeting the parliamentarians and requesting them to get the due amount of the farmers. At the same time, they met Nepali Congress chairman Sher Bahadur Deuba, Rashtriya Swatantra Party chairman Ravi Lamichhane, Rashtriya Prajatantra Party chairman Rajendra Lingden and other leaders. He also met Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and expressed his complaints.

During the meeting, the leaders said that they are on the side of the farmers. Deuba has also called the Prime Minister and asked him to give a suitable address on this matter. When he telephoned Agriculture and Livestock Development Minister Beduram Bhusal, his mobile was switched off. Prime Minister Dahal has said that he has already given instructions to get the payment of the farmers," President Timilsina said, "but the instructions of the Prime Minister have not been implemented. Farmers' movement will not stop until the arrears are paid. According to the network, a dharna will be held at Maitighar on February 21 as part of the protest program. The network said that 5/7 thousand farmers will be brought to Kathmandu during the sit-in program. "Milk farmers from all over the country who are part of the network are coming to Kathmandu," he said. All farmers should get the arrears.

Lately, the dairy industry has not paid for 3/4 months. They have not paid the farmers saying that the consumption has decreased and the scot has increased instead of sales. Dairy Development Institute (DDC), Nepal Dairy Industry, including Nepal Dairy Association have 7 billion in arrears. According to DDC, milk powder is 820 tons and butter is 680 tons and the stock is worth 1.1 billion. About 900 million dues are owed to the farmers. Nepal Dairy Association has about 2 billion worth of butter and powdered milk.

About 1 billion is yet to be paid to farmers. Nepal Dairy Industry Association has 5000 tons of powdered milk and 8000 tons of butter. 5 billion to be paid to farmers. The situation of imports is also the same when dairy is stockpiling goods worth billions of rupees. According to the customs department, billions of rupees were imported. Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has banned the import of milk and milk products after the increase in stock in dairy. Experts say that even though the ban is positive, the government has delayed taking a decision.

"Dairy stocks have been increasing for months, the import ban should have been imposed 5/7 months ago," said a dairy industry, "Despite the delay, a positive decision has been made, now the border crossing should also be tightened." The dairy industry says that the government should also be strict. "But ironically, to buy cheap milk, DDC and dairy industries have set up collection centers at the border," said the industrialist. In order to pay the arrears, DDC has requested 300 million (concessional loan) from the government through the Ministry of Agriculture. Agriculture has already submitted the DDC proposal to the Ministry of Finance. Spokesperson of the Ministry, Savanam Sivakoti, said that the subsidized loan process has progressed in a positive manner. There is also an instruction from the Prime Minister regarding the payment. Accordingly, the loan taking process is positive. "The private sector has also demanded facilitation," she said, "along with concessional loans, efforts to export are also continuing."

According to the ministry, Nepali goods are relatively expensive. As it is expensive, the dairy industry demands that the government facilitate it. The ministry has said that it is doing some homework for that. "Since Chait-Baisak is the dry season, some stock is consumed now. But the balance is not possible," she said. "In order to achieve the balance, we have to export. Preparations are being made for that.'