Farmers in the border districts of Lumbini province are confused and concerned as substandard and smuggled fertilisers flood local markets, particularly during the peak planting season when state-subsidised chemical fertilisers are not readily available.

Taking advantage of Nepal’s open border with India, traders are sneaking in low-quality urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP)—the world’s most widely used phosphorus fertiliser—without any quality checks, farmers say. Many also complain that illegal fertilisers are being sold under the guise of organic products.

With Nepal facing recurrent fertiliser shortages, Indian products are entering the country without undergoing standard testing. The domestic market is now saturated with various fertilisers, making it difficult for farmers to distinguish between legitimate and substandard options.

These fertilisers are widely sold in the western districts of Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Banke, and Bardiya. These border areas, among the country’s top rice-producing zones, have long relied on fertilisers from across the Indian border.

Locals frequently visit border towns to purchase fertilisers, unaware of their quality.

“There’s no fertiliser in the village,” said Shreekrishna Chaudhary of ward 5 of Marchwari Rural Municipality in Rupandehi. “When there’s a shortage, we use whatever is available in the market.”

He pointed out that rural areas lack fertiliser testing facilities, so the issue often goes unnoticed.

Fertiliser dealers in Rupandehi report that imports are being made through customs points without the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Some traders even bring in products like soil conditioners and rock phosphate, in violation of national policy.

Siddhartha Agrawal, proprietor of Grow More Fertiliser and Chemical Pvt Ltd in ward 4 of Rohini Rural Municipality, said that despite the influx of non-standard fertilisers, the authorities remain silent.

Agricultural experts warn that using untested fertilisers can increase soil acidity, harden the soil, and reduce crop yields and overall productivity.

Amid this growing concern, Grow More has written to the director general of the Department of Customs, urging authorities to stop the import of substandard fertilisers through both customs points and informal border crossings.

“Some traders are importing fertilisers through customs without any official approval, and no customs duty or VAT is being applied,” the letter states. “About 30 months ago, fertilisers imported through Bhairahawa customs were seized by the District Police Office and handed over to the Agriculture Office, which confirmed that the import process was illegal.”

Agrawal says fertilisers continue to enter the country both legally through customs and illegally via smuggling routes.

His company is officially registered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Management of Lumbini Province. He claims that fertilisers smuggled in from India are repackaged in Nepali bags, labelled in the Nepali language, and falsely marketed as domestic products. These products, he adds, do not meet government standards.

Traders have appointed dealers in rural villages and small markets to distribute these low-quality products.

According to farmers, brands such as Kisan Gold, Gorkhali Shakti Chemical Fertiliser, Shree Kisan Navaratna, NPL Sardar Mixed Granular Fertiliser, Shubha Sardar, Kisan Shakti, and Kisan Fertiliser are widely available across the region.

Narendra Prasad Chaudhary, information officer at Bhairahawa Customs, stated that only fertilisers officially imported by the government have been allowed through border points. “Records from last year show no private traders importing fertilisers,” he said. “Therefore, no fertilisers have entered through legal commercial channels.”

Lumbini Province Police Chief DIG Rajendra Prasad Bhatt claimed illegal fertiliser imports have been halted due to stricter border control measures. “No illegal fertilisers are entering. We have tightened checks at border crossings, and I will issue fresh directives to all districts to prevent fake fertilisers from getting through,” he said.

Shiva Aryal, head of the Agriculture Knowledge Centre in Rupandehi, stressed the importance of using fertilisers with complete nutritional content. “Government-imported fertilisers contain essential nutrients that benefit crops,” he said.

“But fertilisers imported informally through the open border have uncertain levels of nitrogen, potassium, and other elements. Farmers must be cautious.” He advised them to use only legally produced and officially imported fertilisers, warning against the indiscriminate use of untested alternatives.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Nepal’s annual fertiliser demand is around 600,000 tonnes. However, the state-owned Agriculture Inputs Company believes the actual national requirement at over 1.1 million tonnes. The shortfall, officials say, is met through informal and illegal imports from across the border.

A report by the now-defunct USAID programme previously revealed that Nepal is heavily dependent on smuggled fertilisers. The report estimates that nearly 70 percent of the 600,000 to 800,000 tonnes used in the country annually are brought in through improper channels.