. The Department of Agriculture has recommended the support price of Chaite paddy.

The Department has sent a report along with field study in 25 different districts to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to ensure fair price to farmers.

Director General of the Department, Prakash Sanjel, said that the report analysed the cost of production, seeds, fertilizer, labor, inflation, market price and cost of production.

Information Officer at the Ministry, Mahananda Joshi, said that they have received a proposal of scientific price by incorporating the cost of production, transportation cost, market price and other relevant basis after carrying out an on-site study by the department’s team. Stating that discussions were held with stakeholders to fix per quintal price based on the proposal, he said preparations were underway to submit the proposal to the Council of Ministers.

The price will be made public only after the decision of the Council of Ministers. The support price of paddy produced by the farmers would be ensured by assessing the moisture quality of the paddy.

According to the Ministry, the price of paddy will be applied if the moisture content is up to 18 per cent and the rule of weight loss will be implemented if the moisture content is more than 18 per cent. The paddy would be purchased through the Food Management and Trading Company Limited at the price fixed by the government.

Last year, the government had fixed the support price at Rs 2,800 per quintal.