Fertiliser crisis is hitting farmers hard. Fix it

Nepal is grappling with a persistent chemical fertilizer shortage during crucial farming seasons, a problem that recurs annually. Despite the government possessing data on national needs, demand timing, and required investments for subsidized fertilizers, it consistently fails to ensure their timely availability. This systemic failure compels farmers, particularly in the Tarai region, to seek supplies from the Indian market, a route fraught with legal peril.

“

Under India’s Fertiliser (Control) Order and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, subsidised fertiliser distributed for agricultural use cannot legally be exported or transported outside the country without authorisation.

Subsidized fertilizers like Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), urea, and potash, provided to Indian farmers, are legally restricted from export under Indian law. Authorities can confiscate both the fertilizer and the vehicle involved in unauthorized transport, with offenders facing imprisonment and fines. While Indian security forces have sometimes shown leniency towards Nepali farmers bringing small quantities, recent global tensions and rising prices have led to stricter enforcement in Indian states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

This crackdown has resulted in arrests, including that of two Nepali siblings, Nagendra Prasad Singh and Suresh Prasad Singh, who were detained for three weeks in Bihar before the Nepali Foreign Ministry intervened diplomatically for their release. While the diplomatic effort is a welcome step, it highlights the urgent need for the Nepali government to address the root cause: ensuring domestic availability of chemical fertilizers.

“

The law enables authorities to confiscate both the fertiliser and the vehicle used for transportation, while offenders can face imprisonment and fines.

This issue directly impacts paddy production, a significant contributor to Nepal's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Reliable access to fertilizer is a key input for increasing agricultural productivity, which is essential for economic growth. Nepali farmers already contend with numerous challenges, including inadequate irrigation facilities for less than half the country's agricultural land and the unpredictable rainfall patterns exacerbated by climate change.

“

Although it came late, the Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic initiative, which is expected to secure the release of the Singh brothers in a few days, is a welcome move.

Given that expanding irrigation is costly and climatic conditions are beyond control, the timely availability of chemical fertilizer presents a solvable problem for the government. Ensuring this supply through effective planning and execution is crucial to ending the country's dependence on cross-border supplies and supporting the 60% of the population engaged in agriculture.

“

Taking this as a lesson, the government should now focus on ensuring that no other Nepali citizen has to face what the Singh brothers endured.