By Chhetu Sherpa, Kathmandu, June 15: Complaints are rife that chemical fertilizer has not reached sufficiently to the farmers even as crops plantation season of monsoon has begun.

The farmers have been complaining of the lack of urea fertilizer for maize and rice even long after its timing of fertilization.

They have been asking for immediate supply, otherwise productivity will be diminished.

Chiran Rai who is a farmer of Sankhuwasabha complained that they are not getting urea and DPS for rice even though the time of the fertilization is running out.

He said that there is no fertilizer in the depot and market although in the news it is reported that there is no shortage of fertilizer.

Dr. Yogendra Kumar Karki, secretary (Agriculture Development) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, accepted that chemical fertilizer has not reached sufficiently to the farmers as the Prohibitory Order has obstructed its timely transportation.

He informed that Krishi Samagri Company Ltd and Salt Trading Corporation Limited have been ordered to transport the fertilizer and provide to the farmers immediately.

The country has been paying the price of lagging in timely supply and storage of fertilizer and the farmers have been bearing the brunt even now as in the past years, said Pradeep Chaulagain, a farmer of Bhojpur.

He suggested that there is also of need of improvement in management including the transportation of fertilizer in addition to the fact that chemical fertilizer is specifically required in rural and farming area.

35 thousand 2 hundred and 90 metric ton of urea, 53 thousand7 hundred and 30 metric ton DAP, 8 thousand 42 metric ton Potas (Potassium Fertilizer), 4 hundred 44 metric ton of agriculture lime fertilizer are stored in the Krishi Samagri Company Ltd and Salt Trading Corporation Limited. Also, the Corporation has informed that 65 thousand metric ton urea fertilizer will soon arrive in this June.

Managing Director of the Krishi Samagri Company Ltd, Netra Bahadur Bhandari, said that 20 thousand 86 ton urea, 39 thousand 286 metric ton DAP, 4 thousand 146 ton Potass and 4 hundred 44 ton agriculture lime are stored in the company.

Chief Executive Officer of the Salt Trading Corporation, Urmila Shrestha, informed that 15 thousand 204 metric ton urea, 14 thousand 444 ton DAP, and 3 thousand 896 metric ton o potas are stored in the corporation.