Farmers forced to sell paddy at lower prices

By Siraj Khan, Nepalgunj, Nov. 6: Farmers in Banke, one of the major paddy-producing districts in western Nepal, have complained that they are being forced to sell their paddy at lower prices as the Food Management and Trading Company has failed to begin procurement on time. Although the government has fixed the minimum support prices for paddy this year, farmers say they have been compelled to sell their produce to traders at lower rates because the government-owned company has not started purchasing it. He said the government had fixed the minimum support price at Rs.

3,660 per quintal for coarse paddy and Rs. 3,860 per quintal for medium-grade paddy this year. However, traders were purchasing paddy at prices Rs. 500 to Rs.

1,000 per quintal lower than the government-fixed rates. Tharu said farmers had been compelled to sell their produce due to their need for money during the festive season. He urged the government not only to announce the minimum support price on time but also to begin procurement from the start of the harvesting season.