Chemical fertilizer entered Nepal for the first time through Tatopani checkpoint

Tatopani Bhansar, #The Bagmati Post

Chemical fertilizer has entered Nepal for the first time from the northern border checkpoint Tatopani. Earlier, food, clothes, electronics and other items were imported from Tatopani, but this week, 80,000 bags or 4,000 tonnes of chemical fertilizers have been imported.

The Silk Transport Company has imported chemical fertilizers for salt trading. The manure was brought by train to Sigatse, China, and from there by container. Chief of the Tatopani Customs Office Lal Bahadur Khatri said that chemical fertilizer entered Nepal through the checkpoint for the first time on Falgun 23.

So far, 280 tons of urea fertilizer has arrived. Chief Khatri said that chemical fertilizers are coming in 4-5 containers every day. Chief Khatri said that all the fertilizers would have arrived in a month if the containers used for import were good.

Chairman of Silk Transport Ramesh Sherpa said that the chemical fertilizer was imported after the farmers were able to use it in time. The company has brought manure at around NRs 200 million per metric ton. Chairman Sherpa said that manure can be brought from China to Naka in 5 days and to Kathmandu within 7 days.

Initially, a small quantity of 4,000 tons of manure was brought to Nepal for testing. Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Kanchan Raj Pandey, said that the price of fertilizer would be Rs 2 to 3 per kg cheaper for the farmers. Farmers of hilly districts including Sindhupalchowk, Kavre, Dolakha and Ramechhap will soon be able to use the fertilizer imported from Tatopani.

Silk has been allowed to import fertilizer from China through a global tender called by Salt Trading for the first time. The alternative to bringing manure through India is now bringing manure from Tatopani. If manure can come from Tatopani Naka, easy manure can be made available to the farmers in time. Govinda Prasad Sharma said that at present, farmers can buy fertilizer at around Rs 18 per kg.

As manure is being imported from Bangladesh through Jituji and import of manure has also started from Tatopani Naka, next year there will be no shortage of manure for the farmers.

Each imported container contains 500 bags. One bag contains 50 kg of urea manure. The average purchase price of a bag of manure is Rs 2,322.44. Farmers of Kathmandu, Banepa and Bidur will be able to buy fertilizer at Rs 888.67 per bag with a grant of Rs 1,433.77.

The Tatopani checkpoint, which was shut down after the earthquake, has been operating normally since last year. Fourteen containers of goods are also being imported daily from the checkpoint. Currently, most of the manure is being imported. The Silk Transport Company is currently importing only manure.