Nepal to Import 210,000 Metric Tons of Chemical Fertilizer by Mid-August to Support Paddy Farmers
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment plans to import around 210,000 metric tons of chemical fertilizer by the Nepali month of Shrawan to ensure an adequate supply for paddy cultivation.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment has announced plans to import approximately 210,000 metric tons of chemical fertilizer by the Nepali month of Shrawan to ensure an adequate supply for paddy farmers during the planting season.
According to the ministry, 30,000 metric tons of urea fertilizer will be imported from India under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement. The shipment is expected to arrive in Nepal between the end of Ashar and the second week of Shrawan.
As part of the broader G2G agreement with India for 80,000 metric tons, the first batch of 50,000 metric tons is also expected to reach Nepal by the second week of Shrawan.
The ministry is also importing 180,000 metric tons of chemical fertilizer through international tenders, including 60,000 metric tons of DAP and 120,000 metric tons of urea, with deliveries targeted by the first week of Shrawan.
Several fertilizer shipments are already in transit. A 30,000-metric-ton urea shipment from Oman is expected to reach Kolkata by the end of Ashar before entering Nepal in the second week of Shrawan.
Similarly, 30,000 metric tons of DAP has crossed the Strait of Hormuz and reached Visakhapatnam Port, with delivery to Nepal expected around Ashar 19–20, according to Salt Trading Corporation Limited.
Additional shipments include 30,000 metric tons of urea already loaded for transport through Kolkata Port, 30,000 metric tons of urea from Qatar, 30,000 metric tons of urea from Saudi Arabia, and 30,000 metric tons of DAP from Vietnam, all scheduled to arrive in Nepal over the coming weeks.
The ministry said it is working to maintain fertilizer supplies despite reduced global availability caused by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
This fiscal year, the government aims to distribute around 600,000 metric tons of subsidized chemical fertilizer, the highest annual target in Nepal's history.
To improve transparency and efficiency, authorities have instructed agencies to update fertilizer distribution records through the online system. The ministry has also launched a hotline (9700099113) and a QR-code complaint system for reporting black marketing or irregularities in fertilizer distribution between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM.