Farmers coming to buy fertilizer have been forced to return empty-handed as the cooperative in Khajura that sells it is fresh out of stock.

Agriculture Materials Company and Salt Trading Corporation, which are responsible for supplying urea, said that they did not have any fertilizer in stock.

“There is no fertilizer when we need it the most,” said Roina Chaudhary who had come to Khajura from Pedaro village hoping to get urea. “If we don’t get urea, the production won’t be good. The government should arrange fertilizer supplies.”

Nirmal Khanal, president of Khajura Cooperative, said they had received a shipment of only 50 sacks of urea. According to him, they had rationed fertilizer to 10 kg per farmer. “There is high dem-and, but we don’t have adequate supplies,” Khanal said.

Pushpa Raj Shrestha, head of the fertilizer distribution unit at Agriculture Materials Company, said they were out of stock. According to him, they have not been able to import additional supplies to fulfill demand due to a strike.

Demand for urea increases after the paddy cultivation is completed. Banke faces a shortage of fertilizer every year. According to Dhirendra Shrestha, deputy head of Salt Trading Corporation, Nepal-gunj, they had issued 50 sacks of urea to each cooperative.

Farmers have been buying contraband urea from traders on the Indian border. Agro officials said the region requires around 5,000-10,000 tonnes of urea each year.