KATHMANDU: More than 96 percent of paddy planting across Nepal has been completed, but farmers are again facing a shortage of chemical fertilizer as they enter the top-dressing stage.

The Agriculture Ministry says more than 200,000 tonnes of fertilizer are needed during the June-July planting season, but only 115,184 tonnes were distributed. Farmers who struggled to obtain fertilizer during planting are now lining up at cooperatives for urea.

The government currently has 48,627 tonnes of fertilizer in stock, including 14,055 tonnes of urea, 18,631 tonnes of DAP and 15,941 tonnes of potash. However, at least 100,000 tonnes of urea are estimated to be needed for top dressing.

Agriculture Inputs Company Managing Director Bishnu Prasad Pokharel said 180,000 tonnes of fertilizer are on the way, including 130,000 tonnes of urea and 50,000 tonnes of DAP. Of this, 90,000 tonnes of urea and 50,000 tonnes of DAP have already reached Kolkata.

Around 15 days are required to pack and transport fertilizer from Kolkata to Nepal. Another 20,000 tonnes of DAP purchased from India under a government-to-government arrangement is also expected.

The government has targeted procuring 550,000 tonnes of chemical fertilizer this fiscal year and allocated Rs 32.46 billion for subsidies. However, annual demand is estimated at around 1.3 million tonnes.

Farmers say delays in fertilizer supplies could affect crop yields. Farmers in Banke reported spending days in queues without receiving urea, while some said their paddy had already begun turning yellow.

The Agriculture Inputs Company has 30,602 tonnes of fertilizer in its warehouses, while Salt Trading Corporation has 18,025 tonnes.

The government says supplies will increase as incoming fertilizer reaches Nepal, but farmers remain concerned about getting urea in time for the critical top-dressing period.