Farmers Struggle as Costs Rise in Nepal

Farmers in Nepal are struggling to cope with the rising costs of farming, including the cost of tractor rentals and fertilizers.

Dinesh Mahato, a farmer from Hattidanda in Sarlahi, is preparing to plant paddy in his 15-kattha field. However, the delayed planting of paddy due to lack of water has added to his concerns.

The cost of renting a tractor has increased from Rs 2,000 per hour last year to Rs 2,500 this year. The cost of plowing dry land has also increased from Rs 1,400 to Rs 1,600 per hour to Rs 2,200.

Farmers are also facing difficulties in getting fair prices for their produce. Shankar Sapkota, a farmer from Bagmati Municipality-11, said that the government should regulate the prices of agricultural inputs and outputs.

The Bagmati Municipality-11 has not been able to regulate the prices of tractor rentals and fertilizers due to lack of authority. The municipality’s chief administrative officer, Ram Prasad Sharma, said that the municipality has not been able to regulate the prices of tractor rentals and fertilizers despite receiving complaints from farmers.

The district administration has been fixing the prices of agricultural inputs and outputs every year, but it has not been able to regulate the prices of tractor rentals and fertilizers. The chief district officer, Vijaya Raj Suvedi, said that the district administration will discuss the issue of regulating the prices of tractor rentals and fertilizers while fixing the prices of agricultural inputs and outputs for the next fiscal year.

Farmers are also facing difficulties in getting fair prices for their produce. Sajani Kumari Syangtan, a farmer from Hariban Municipality-5, said that the government should regulate the prices of agricultural inputs and outputs to ensure that farmers get fair prices for their produce.