During the House of Representatives session, MPs drew the government’s attention to farmers’ problems, declining agricultural product prices, fertilizer shortages, irrigation crises, and the poor condition of rural roads. MP Narendra Kumar Gupta raised concerns about the insufficient supply of fertilizers and the exclusion of the Hulaki Highway from budget priorities. Kathmandu, May 19.
In Monday’s session of the House of Representatives, MPs emphasized issues faced by farmers, including falling prices for agricultural products, fertilizer scarcity, irrigation difficulties, and deteriorating rural road infrastructure. MP Narendra Kumar Gupta pointed out that despite the approaching planting season, adequate fertilizers have not been arranged, urging the government to take notice. He also highlighted the government’s failure to prioritize budget allocation for the Hulaki Highway, a crucial route to enhance transportation access in the Terai-Madhes region.
MP Nirasha Chaudhary Dagoura stated that the agricultural sector is increasingly being pushed into crisis. She raised the challenge that farmers, despite having land ownership certificates, are unable to access agricultural loans easily. Moreover, the absence of sufficient fertilizer, seeds, irrigation, and market management is increasing production costs. She noted that the lack of fair prices for produce is decreasing youth interest in farming. She also mentioned chronic issues in Kanchanpur-1 related to flooding, landslides, and infrastructure.
“Should Nepalese farmers continue to follow the path of Prem Acharya?” questioned MP Prakash Pathak. He described the farmer’s situation as alarming due to soaring cultivation costs combined with falling product prices. According to him, the hourly wage for tilling fields has risen from NPR 1,800 to NPR 3,000, and seed prices have also increased. Amid persistent fertilizer shortages and irrigation problems, maize prices have dropped from NPR 35 to NPR 28 per kilogram.
He expressed concern that due to open borders, foreign agricultural products containing pesticides have saturated the Nepalese market, jeopardizing domestic production. “Because of open borders, pesticide-laden products have captured the Nepalese market. Consumers are unknowingly consuming harmful substances,” he questioned. MP Prashant Upreti described the extremely poor road conditions in Kailash, Raksirang, Thaha, Indrasarobar, Bhimphedi, Ghadi, and Manahari areas of Makwanpur district.
He recounted incidents where, due to poor roads and communication problems, ambulances were unable to reach patients, resulting in two deaths due to lack of treatment. He added that the price of potatoes produced in Thaha has fallen to NPR 10 per kilogram, but they cannot be transported to Kathmandu due to poor road conditions. MP Nitima Bhandari Karki identified irrigation as the main issue in Sarlahi.
There was hope that the Sunsari-Marin Diversion Project would alleviate irrigation problems in the district; however, current infrastructure leaves many arable lands in northern and southern Sarlahi-1 deprived of irrigation, she noted. She urged the government to revise the Detailed Project Report or immediately develop plans to construct branch canals from Kapilakot in Sindhuli to resolve this issue.
She emphasized that such improvements would not only increase agricultural production but also help prevent youth from seeking employment abroad.
