Birgunj. Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Dr Madan Prasad Pariyar, has said that an online structure required for the distribution of chemical fertilizers with government subsidies is being developed for the distribution of chemical fertilizers in a farmer-friendly and equitable manner.

During an inspection of government offices related to agriculture and livestock in Parsa and Bara districts and a separate meeting with farmers on Saturday, he said efforts were being made to make the chemical fertilizer distribution system real farmer-friendly.

“The genuine farmers have not been able to get the subsidized fertiliser provided by the government in an easy and equitable manner. In order to address such complaints, we are working to develop an online system to determine which farmers received how much quantity of fertilizers through the online system. It is possible that this work will be brought into operation soon”, he said, adding, “The government has been purchasing chemical fertilizers worth huge amount and providing them to the farmers at a cheaper price as subsidy.” However, there is still a problem in the distribution system of subsidized fertilizers. We are trying to rectify this weakness. ’

Minister Pariyar said the genuine farmers have not been able to get chemical fertilizers due to the mischief of the local governments facilitating the sale and distribution of chemical fertilizers and the cooperatives, firms or companies that have obtained permission or dealership for the distribution of chemical fertilizers.

“We are making arrangements to check the distribution of chemical fertilizers online by the farmers of different rural municipalities. “This system will also help evaluate those receiving or not receiving fertiliser”, he said, adding, “It will also help end the arbitrariness of those who have access to the fertilizer distribution system.”

“We are preparing to build a structure that can view the factual data of how much fertilizer has reached which cooperatives and which farmers have received the government-subsidized fertiliser,” he said. We hope that this will help in preventing the misuse of chemical fertilizers. ’

The government has set the import point price of urea fertilizer at Rs 14 per kg. Similarly, the price of DAP has been fixed at Rs 43 per kg and potash at Rs 31 per kg. Minister Pariyar claimed that the government has been purchasing chemical fertilizers at a very high price and providing subsidized fertilizer to the farmers at a cheaper price.

“The demand for chemical fertilizers is increasing every year,” he said, adding, “The government has been purchasing four and a half hundred thousand metric tons to five hundred thousand metric tons of chemical fertilizers every year, but the demand of farmers is still not sustainable.” Minister Pariyar claimed that there would be no shortage of chemical fertilizers this year as in the past years.

On a different note, Minister Pariyar said that the government has already taken the sugarcane farmers to the Council of Ministers to continue the subsidy of Rs 70 per quintal. “We are serious about the problems of sugarcane farmers. ’

Minister Pariyar stressed the need of mechanization in agriculture. Sachin Mishra, chief of the Agricultural Implements Research Center, Ranighat, said that productivity could be increased by reducing the cost of cultivation if agriculture could be cultivated using agricultural tools. “The time has come for the government to lay special emphasis on mechanization of agricultural implements. Through mechanization, a good leap can be made in agriculture. ’

According to Bishweshwar Prasad Yadav, chief of the Agricultural Research Directorate, Parwanipur, the Directorate has started buffalo rearing under the lifestock scheme. “We have been working on the latest practices in the agriculture sector. The government needs necessary support in agriculture study, research and mechanization,” he suggested.

Deputy Chief of the National Bird Research Programme Dr Ajit Jha underscored the need for the government to create an environment conducive for bringing eggs of improved species for research purposes. “We are facing a lot of hassles to bring eggs of improved breeds of birds to Nepal for study and research”, he said, adding, “It has become necessary to facilitate the Ministry of Agriculture for study and research.” ’

Minister Pariyar on Saturday inquired about the stock of chemical fertilizers and salt from the Salt Trading Corporation and Agriculture Inputs Company Limited, Birgunj. Minister Pariyar also interacted with the National Sugarcane Research Programme, sugarcane farmers of Phattepur of Bara, sugarcane farmers of Jeetpur Simara Sub-metropolis ward no. 8, fish farmers of Kolhabi of Bara and banana farmers of Nijgadh, among others.