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India Steps In to Supply Fertiliser to Nepal Amid Shortage Crisis

India has agreed to supply 80,000 tonnes of fertiliser to Nepal, following a request from Kathmandu due to supply disruptions from the West Asian conflict. The shipment includes 60,000 tonnes of urea and 20,000 tonnes of DAP, aimed at averting shortages during the upcoming paddy transplantation season. The deal is processed under a 2022 MoU between the two nations, with India's Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers Limited handling the logistics. Additionally, India continues to supply energy products to neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius.

Key Points: India to Supply Fertiliser to Nepal to Avert Shortage

  • India processes Nepal's fertiliser request amid West Asian conflict
  • Nepal to get 80,000 tonnes (60,000 urea, 20,000 DAP) via G2G deal
  • Supply aims to prevent shortages during paddy transplantation season
  • India also supplies energy products to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius
2 min read

India agrees to supply fertiliser as Nepal faces shortage

India processes Nepal’s request for 80,000 tonnes of fertiliser amid West Asian conflict disruptions, supporting paddy season.

"We have received a request from Nepal for the supply of fertilisers. This is being processed within the existing framework of cooperation. - Randhir Jaiswal"

New Delhi, May 12

India will be supplying fertiliser to Nepal as a request has been received from Kathmandu amid the supply disruptions that the Himalayan country is facing due to the West Asian conflict, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Tuesday.

"We have received a request from Nepal for the supply of fertilisers. This is being processed within the existing framework of cooperation," Jaiswal said in the MEA's weekly briefing.

Nepal is sourcing 80,000 tonnes of fertiliser, which includes 60,000 tonnes of urea and 20,000 tonnes of DAP, from India through a government-to-government (G2G) deal. This move aims to prevent shortages during the upcoming paddy transplantation season, with shipments expected to help stabilise supplies amid global disruptions.

The MEA spokesperson also said that India has been "supplying energy products to countries in the neighbourhood. We have been supplying diesel to Bangladesh through the high-speed diesel friendship pipeline that we have. We also got some additional requests from Bangladesh, which we met and we are meeting".

"We've also been supplying energy products to Bhutan as per the existing regimen, as well as Nepal, as per the commercial agreement and the arrangement that we have presently with them. We have likewise supplied energy products to Sri Lanka, and there are some arrangements that are in the works right now with Mauritius as well," he added.

Nepal's Cabinet approved the urgent purchase of fertiliser after a shipment expected from the Gulf was disrupted due to the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, according to media reports. The supply is being handled by India's state-owned Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers Limited, and the fertilisers are scheduled to arrive by mid-August.

The deal is part of a broader, ongoing MoU signed in 2022 between India and Nepal regarding fertiliser supply, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said in a press release.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sneha F
So India is helping Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka... even Mauritius. 'Neighbourhood First' policy in action. At a time when global supply chains are shaky, this is smart diplomacy. But I do wonder about the financial terms—hope it's not just a handout, but a mutually beneficial deal.
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Aman W
This is what true friendship looks like 🇮🇳🇳🇵. But I hope the fertiliser actually reaches the farmers and doesn't get hoarded or black-marketed. The real test is distribution on the ground. Also, 80,000 tonnes for a whole paddy season—will that be enough?
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Emma D
It's nice that India is helping its neighbours, but isn't this also a strategic move? India wants to counter China's influence in Nepal. Still, the people of Nepal are the ones who benefit, so I say good job. ‍🌏
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Rajesh Q
Arre, this is a well-timed move by India. Fertiliser shortage can ruin a harvest, and farmers in the region are already struggling. But I want to see transparency: how is the price decided? And why does Nepal have to beg? They should have had contingency plans. ‍🌱
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Michael C
Good diplomatic gesture. The Strait of Hormuz blockade is a stark reminder how global crises affect even landlocked countries. But 80,000T is a drop in the ocean for a country like Nepal. Hope the mid-August deadline is met—any delay could hurt the season badly.

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