Kathmandu: India has expressed interest in selling chemical fertilizers to Nepal under the government-to-government (G2G) model.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), the Indian government has expressed its willingness to sign an agreement soon with Nepal to provide fertilizers for the next five years. “In a response to the letter forwarded by the ministry a few months ago, the Indian authorities have recently sent a positive note,” MoAD Secretary Yogendra Kumar Karki said.

Provided the proposal will come online in its present form, Nepal will be able to import 200,000 tons of fertilizers annually. It will include 120,000 tons of urea and 80,000 tons of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP).

The ministry claimed that the fertilizers to be imported through the G2G model will be relatively cheaper than the ones being purchased through a global tender. In addition, it could ensure good quality while the country can maintain the supply within a short time if there is a shortage of the agricultural input amid the main plantation season, said Karki.

The shortage of fertilizers has been a perennial problem that hits the farmers mainly during the rice plantation season that starts from June. Last year, farmers faced setbacks after the private companies Shailung Enterprises Pvt Ltd and Honiko Multiple Pvt Ltd, which were contracted to supply fertilizers on time, failed to accomplish the task. Following the incident, the government looks forward to importing agricultural inputs under the G2G model.

As of now, the government, for the first time, has signed an agreement with Bangladesh to purchase fertilizers in this model. Of 50,000 tons of fertilizers that Bangladesh is providing, Nepal has received 30,500 tons till date.