It was reported by La Repubblica that due to the soaring prices in the international market, importers are reluctant to buy enough agricultural inputs, and farmers may also face the problem of fertilizer shortages this year.

According to Agricultural input Company Limitd (AICL), importers have been complaining about the rise in fertilizer prices in the international market. "On average, the price in the international market has increased by $300 per ton," said by Netra Bahadur Bandari, the managing director of AICL.

Bandari said that AICL had awarded the contract to the importers at the price which was much lower than the current price. " Taking the risks of possible huge losses, but importers have been refusing to import fertilizers," he added.

In the past few months, the purchase price of chemical fertilizers has increased from $670 per ton to $948 per ton. Nepal needs 750000 to 800000 tons of chemical fertilizers during the planting season.

According to AICL, the government has allocated 15 billion rupees for the import of chemical fertilizers this year. However, Bandari said that this amount is only enough to buy 200000 tons.