The Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment has called on concerned stakeholders to effectively implement the minimum support price for spring paddy (Chaite Dhan) set by the government for the current fiscal year.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Agriculture and Livestock Business Promotion Division urged the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project, the Nepal Rice, Oil and Pulse Producers Association, and other relevant bodies to ensure proper enforcement of the support price.
The Cabinet, through its April 6 decision, fixed the minimum support price for spring paddy with up to 18 percent moisture content at Rs 2,866.41 per quintal for fiscal year 2025/26.
According to the statement issued by Joint Secretary Engineer Jagannath Tiwari, the ministry acted after receiving complaints that Nepali farmers were being forced to compete with cheaper Indian paddy, while issues related to moisture content and storage were preventing them from obtaining fair prices for their produce.
The ministry noted that the harvesting season for spring paddy coincides with the monsoon period, making it difficult to maintain proper storage conditions. At the same time, farmers require immediate cash to prepare for the main monsoon paddy crop, compelling many to sell their harvest at lower prices during the peak season.
Stressing the importance of spring paddy cultivation for achieving national food self-sufficiency, the ministry emphasized that both the government and the private sector share responsibility for ensuring farmers recover their production costs and earn a reasonable profit.
The ministry has also placed special emphasis on coordinating with rice mill owners and other stakeholders to facilitate the purchase of paddy from farmers at the government-determined support price.
