Although the weather seems to support the farmers who are preparing for planting this year, there are indications that the government will cause trouble by not being able to ensure the adequacy of chemical fertilizers. At this time, the farmers of Madhyapahari region, who are busy with planting, have to bear the shortage of chemical fertilizers.

Bhaktapur, Kavre, Sindhupalchowk around the capital also lack fertilizer. Terai, which is considered the capital of paddy cultivation, is also likely to increase complaints after planting begins. Planting is generally intensive till June 15 in Madhyapahar and then in Terai.

There is little time to start planting in Terai. Therefore, the government should be active in order to streamline the supply and distribution of fertilizers. Government action is imperative to strengthen national food security. This is a basic expectation in a country where 60 percent of the population depends on agriculture. 

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, growing three crops a year requires about 1.2 million tons of fertilizer. Of that, 448,000 tons of fertilizer is required for paddy crops. But according to the records till May 28, only 70 thousand 500 tons of chemical fertilizers are available.

of which there are 31 thousand 800 tons of urea, 29 thousand tons of DAP and 9 thousand 500 tons of potash. It is clear from this, there is a shortage of fertilizers in the country this year as well. When there is always a lack of fertilizer during cultivation, the energy of the farmer is spent on it. Planting time is pushed back and yields are reduced. Economic plans made in connection with agricultural production will fail. The plot is always the same.

Three decades ago in 2049, the then Agriculture Minister Shailaja Acharya had to resign due to a dispute over the supply of chemical fertilizers. Even then, there was never a shortage of complaints and news about fertilizer shortages. Even if the shortage is reduced in some years, overall fertilizer shortage has become a strong fate of Nepalese farmers. The irony is that sustainable solutions have never been found to meet the demand for fertilizers.

In the absence of sufficient supply of fertilizer, farmers have to buy it from the market at a high price. On the other hand, the quality of the fertilizers purchased in such a way is not guaranteed. As a result, farmers cannot coordinate fertilizer use according to their land area and crops. It can have a negative impact on the product itself.

Some farmers in the border areas with India are leading to bring fertilizers through illegal means. Fertilizer smuggling is not limited to Terai. For example, in June 2079, a truck carrying illegal chemical fertilizers was seized by the Revenue Investigation Department in Dhading. Also, while bringing the fertilizer to Kathmandu, the local farmers snatched it. Such events will make social psychology negative. 

In the current fiscal year, the Ministry of Agriculture has allocated a budget of 27.95 billion for the purchase of fertilizer, with the goal of purchasing 550,000 tons of fertilizer. Despite tendering for the same, there is no improvement in the supply situation. Agricultural Materials Company Limited and Salt Trading Corporation Limited have been purchasing fertilizers through global tender. This process takes 3 to 6 months.