Kathmandu. Farmers in Kailali have not received proper price for wheat this year. The farmers who sold wheat at Rs four thousand per quintal last year are compelled to sell it at Rs 200 less this year. Currently, wheat is being sold at Rs 3,800 per quintal. Meanwhile, the production has also been damaged due to rain and storm that occurred a few days ago.

Ruplal Chaudhary, a farmer, said that he was in trouble as he did not get proper price for his produce. “We had to sell wheat at a lower price than last year, we should have got a higher price even if it was smaller, we are not getting fertilizers and seeds on time and we are not getting proper price even after cultivating it,” he said.

Manjit Rawal, a local of Tikapur, said that farmers have not been able to get proper price for wheat as the government has not fixed the support price on time. According to him, farmers are facing the problem of not getting fertilizers and seeds on time and not getting proper price even at the time of sale. Wheat production has decreased due to rain accompanied by storms in the past few days. At present, even in the collection centers, they are not getting proper price, farmers are incurring losses from everywhere.

Pahalman Saud of Tikapur has purchased four quintals of wheat at the rate of Rs 4,200 per quintal. He said he had bought wheat at the same price last year and this year’s price was good. “I bought it at the same price last year as well, but I bought it on time expecting to increase this year.

Bhim Bahadur Thakurla of Tikapur-based Bhim Food Purchase and Sale Centre said that he used to buy good quality wheat at Rs 3,800 per quintal. “We buy wheat that is not properly cleaned for Rs 3,600 and will provide up to Rs 3,900 depending on the quality,” he said.

According to food entrepreneurs, wheat purchased from Kailali is sold at Rs four thousand per quintal in the flour mills of Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi. Thakurla has so far supplied four hundred quintals of wheat to Nepalgunj for sale at the rate of four thousand rupees per quintal.

Ram Hari Poudel, proprietor of Poudel Rice Mill, said farmers have started bringing wheat for sale. “This year, the wheat mixed with small grains and soil has been sold as the wheat has not ripened due to rain and storm,” he said, adding, “Last year, I had bought wheat for Rs 4,200 per quintal.” This year, I am buying between Rs 3,850 and Rs 3,900. ‘

The government has not fixed the support price of wheat this year. As the support price has not been fixed, the food exchange centers are fixing the purchase rate in coordination with the mills.

Last year, the government had fixed the minimum support price of wheat at Rs 3,867.38 per quintal. The farmers have complained that they have not been able to get the right price for the farmers as the support price has not been fixed this year. The Ministry of Agriculture has already sent the proposal to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies for determining the support price.

According to Moti Singh BK, agro technician at the Agriculture Development Section of Tikapur Municipality, the farmers will get relief if the support price of wheat is fixed on time. “If the support price is fixed on time, the farmers do not have to sell the produce at a loss and the chances of being cheated by the middlemen will be less,” he said, adding, “This year, the farmers have not got the appropriate price as both the mill operators and buyers have determined the price themselves.” ‘