By Our Reporter
After the government failed to import the required amount of chemical fertilizers to be used in paddy fields and other crops, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged his Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, to help Nepal with the fertiliser supply.
PM Oli telephoned the Bangladeshi PM Tuesday afternoon asking her for urea fertiliser.
According to a tweet of PM Oli, the Bangladeshi PM had taken his request for the urgent supply of urea for this crop season positively.
He has sought Bangladesh’s support for 50,000 tonnes of urea to Nepal on a refundable basis.
Shortage of chemical fertilisers has become a recurring problem in every crop season for the past several years. The country needs about 700,000 to 800,000 tonnes of fertilisers, but the government has been supplying only as much as 400,000 tonnes – half of the total demand, which has seriously affected the yield of major crops across the country.
Owing to the scarcity of the much-needed fertilisers, farmers in the areas bordering with India have begun to smuggle it from across the border.
The smuggling not only demands a higher price of the urea but also increases the fear of coronavirus contagion during the pandemic.
During the conversation, the two Prime Ministers also exchanged views on various matters of common interests, including cooperation in power generation, grid connectivity and power supply from Nepal to Bangladesh.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, promotion of barrier-free and balanced trade between the two countries, improved transit facility for Nepal through Bangladesh, enhanced connectivity and promotion of tourism were also the issues of discussion.
PM Oli thanked his Bangladeshi counterpart for providing a new railway route through Rohanpur (Bangladesh) to Singabad (India) railway line.
PM Oli thanked the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the supply of 5,000 vials of Remdesivir injection and other essential medicines and medical logistics to Nepal.
People’s Review Print Edition
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