Butwal, Apr. 19: Farmers of Rupandehi district are disappointed at not receiving a proper price for their paddy.

The yield of paddy this year is much greater compared to last year. But the farmers have not been able to profit.

Vishnu Paudel, a farmer, says, “Leave alone the loan principal, even the interest could not be paid.”

Traders here are trading in rice imported from India which is cheaper by 20 to 30 per cent.

According to the District Agriculture Development Office, the output of paddy sown on 73,000 hectares in the district was 211,700 mt. This is an increase of 16 to 20 per cent over the previous year.

As a result of the prevailing market price of rice, farmers are not able to recover even the cost of production.

President of Rupandehi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mahendra Narayan Shrestha says that at present an average of 15 truck loads for rice a day is imported from India.

According to Rupandehi Rice Mills Association, dozens of local rice mills are on the verge of closure due to the unrestricted import of rice from India.

Meanwhile, Butwal Chamber of Commerce and Industry has issued a press release urging the government to pay attention to resolving the problem which may also have a negative impact on employment .