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Started 1 week ago · Updated 1 week ago

Nepal's Agriculture Minister Calls for Ending Fertilizer Imports, Focusing on Domestic Production

Agriculture Minister Geeta Chaudhary has urged Nepal to cease its reliance on imported chemical fertilizers, advocating for the redirection of billions of rupees spent annually on imports towards strengthening the domestic agricultural sector. Speaking at a House of Representatives committee meeting, Chaudhary emphasized the need for Nepal to develop local solutions, including the potential establishment of domestic fertilizer production facilities, to reduce financial burdens and support agricultural modernization.

• The minister revealed that nearly 50 percent of the Agriculture Ministry's budget is currently allocated to importing chemical fertilizers, limiting investment in other critical agricultural areas.
• Chaudhary suggested that reducing dependence on foreign fertilizer imports would allow the government to redirect funds towards agricultural modernization, farmer support, and production growth.
• The minister stated that creating local production capacity or identifying alternative systems for fertilizer management would help reduce the financial burden on the state.
• The call for self-reliance in agricultural inputs comes amid reports of significant crop damage in Kavrepalanchowk district due to recent heavy rainfall, with losses estimated at around Rs 460 million.