Fertilizer Relief for Nepal: 30,000 Tons of DAP Arrives to Boost Paddy Season
Nepal's Ministry of Agriculture confirms the arrival of 30,000 metric tons of DAP fertilizer via global tender, with 1,250 tons reaching farmers this Monday to ease shortages ahead of the paddy planting season.
Nepal's agricultural sector is receiving a critical boost as **30,000 metric tons of DAP fertilizer** purchased through a global tender has officially begun arriving in the country. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Environment confirmed that the shipment, secured to support farmers during the peak paddy cultivation season, is now in transit from international ports.
Immediate Delivery This Monday
Farmers can expect immediate relief as approximately **1,250 metric tons** of the shipment are scheduled to reach Nepal on Monday. This initial batch arrived at the **Kolkata port** on July 10 after a long journey, marking the start of a larger distribution effort. Minister **Gita Chaudhary**'s secretariat verified the timeline, emphasizing that the government is prioritizing rapid distribution to ensure crops are not delayed.
More Supplies in the Pipeline
The arrival at Kolkata is just the beginning of a multi-port logistics operation. Additional supplies from the same 30,000-ton consignment are currently being processed at the **Visakhapatnam port** in India. The Ministry stated that these secondary shipments are being managed to guarantee **timely distribution** to farmers across the country, preventing the bottlenecks that have plagued previous seasons.
Bigger Picture: 210,000 Tons Total Import Plan
This DAP shipment is part of a massive **210,000 metric ton** import strategy launched by the Ministry to secure food supplies for the upcoming year. The plan includes:
- 60,000 tons of DAP and 120,000 tons of urea imported via international tenders from countries like Oman and Qatar.
- 30,000 tons of urea arriving under a government-to-government (G2G) agreement with India.
The arrival of these fertilizers comes after significant concerns over supply disruptions caused by the **West Asia conflict**, which had previously delayed 185,000 tons of contracted fertilizer. With the DAP now moving through Indian ports, the government aims to stabilize input costs and ensure that Nepal's farmers have the resources needed for a successful harvest.