BIRATNAGAR, DEC 03 - Farmers of the Eastern region have been forced to sell their production at a cheaper price as the local businessmen have declined to purchase paddy due to Maoist problem and the unofficial flow of cheap paddy from India.
The local farmers said that they have been unable even to recover the investment, let alone making profit due to lower price of their products.
Price of the paddy has gone down almost by Rs 250 per quintal this year as compared to the price of last year.
"I was able to save some money selling paddy last year. But, during this season, it is hard even to recover the investment," said Lok Bahadur Kafle, a local farmer who has planted paddy in two hectares of land.
Bindhyachal Shah who deals in paddy and other food grains said, "Unless the Nepal Food Corporation fixes the price of paddy and purchases from the farmers, it is most unlikely that the farmers would be able to sell their products," he added.
Another local businessmen said that he has not been able even to sell the stockpile of paddy stored last year as the Maoists have obstructed to supply it to the hilly districts of the region.
"To purchase paddy in such a situation is apparently to lose our investment," he said. "However, we have imported a certain amount of paddy from India at a cheaper price."
The businessmen pointed out that hundreds of quintals of paddy have been imported through illegal channel from the border points in Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari districts.
The price of Indian paddy is cheaper by Rs 150 per quintal compared to the Nepali paddy.Posted on: 2003-12-02 10:56

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