India to supply subsidised fertilisers to Nepal: Paswan

New Delhi, Jun 8 (UNI) India will supply to Nepal 15,000 tonnes of urea and 10,000 tonnes of DAP on the subsidised rates as fixed for Indian farmers, Chemical and Fertilisers Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said here today.

After a discussion with Nepal's visiting Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Mahanta Thakur, Mr Paswan told the mediapersons that despite huge domestic demand, India had accommodated Nepal's request and supplies will be at the earliest.

Last year, India supplied 5,000 tonnes each of urea and DAP to Nepal at subsidised prices.

India makes fertilisers available to the farmers at MRP of Rs 4,840 per tonnes for Urea and DAP at Rs 9,350 per tonne.

Nepal has acute shortage of fertilisers and a sizeable portion of its requirement is being smuggled from bordering areas of UP (Teria) and Bihar.

Referring to India's concern, expressed by Mr Paswan over the increasing smuggling menaces, the visiting Nepalese Minister said his government would ''plug these activities through administrative and other steps.'' The Nepalese Minister is part of five-member delegation accompanied to Nepal Prime Minister B.P. Koirala, on his first visit to India.

Nepal's 85 per cent population depends on agriculture which contributes 40 per cent of its GDP.

UNI/JSS/BBS VJ HT1907