Kathmandu: The government has targeted to import 300,000 tons of chemical fertilizers in the first four months of the next fiscal year to address the possible shortage of agricultural inputs.

Speaking at a program on Thursday, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Padma Kumari Aryal, said the line ministry will soon start the process to include the plan in the budget for the next fiscal year. As per the government estimate, a total of 103,000 tons of fertilizers is required during the period of mid-July and mid-October.

Fertilizer shortage is a perennial problem in Nepal. Almost every year, farmers struggle to get adequate amounts of fertilizers despite the government’s assurance to supply the agricultural inputs on time.

According to Aryal, a stock of 200,000 tons of fertilizers from the current fiscal year will be sold to farmers for the upcoming paddy plantation season. The government has earmarked Rs 11 billion to import fertilizers. Out of the imported quantity, 187,000 tons has already been provided to farmers while the remaining 162,000 tons is in the process of import by the government authorities.

Time and again, the government has been reiterating its promise to install fertilizer production plants inside the country. However, such plans of the government are yet to materialize.