Sugar producers opt for price hike

By Bijay Babu Khatri

KATHMANDU, Dec 27 - Sugar entrepreneurs are preparing for yet another hike in the price of sugar, hardly a month after sugar price was raised from Rs 26.50 to Rs 28 per kg.

The recent hike in the price of sugar was as a result of a rise in the procurement price of sugarcane from around Rs 125 to around Rs 131 by the government owned Birgunj Sugar Mills.

Private sugar mills have now agreed to pay Rs 136 per quintal of sugarcane, which would necessitate sugar price to further rise, say private entrepreneurs.

Sugarcane farmers had been pressing for a hike in the price of sugarcane to Rs 168 per quintal, but have agreed to settle at Rs 136.

"Increase in procurement costs necessitates a further increase in the price of sugar," said Sashi Kant Agrawal, President of Sugar Entrepreneurs Association.

Farmers demanding a higher price, had stopped supply of cane to the sugar mills last month, thereby, causing a short supply of sugar and prices to shoot up. Though entrepreneurs deny that there is any shortage now, retailers claim that adequate supply is yet to be restored.

President of the Nepal Retail Traders Association, Ganga Bahadur Manandhar has said that there is still short supply of sugar in the market. "Consumers are not getting sugar as per demand. The row between sugarcane producers and mill owners needs to be solved immediately," he said.

However, General Manager of Salt Trading Corporation, Parmeshwor Mahaseth said, flow of sugar from the mills is smooth and that there is no dearth of its supply in the capital. "Sugar shortage to some extent was felt a few days back, not now," he defended.

He accused that the recent short supply of sugar was partly caused by the reluctance of sugar entrepreneurs to supply sugar out of stock, anticipating a rise in price. "The mill owners are hesitating to pump all the stock in the market," he said.

Hike in the price of sugarcane had increased costs of production of sugar by Rs 1.25 per kg. Furthermore, increase in costs of transportation, labour and fertilisers contributed to the additional rise in price by Rs 1.50 per kg of sugar.

The market, since Dashain, had been facing a deficit in sugar supply, causing the price to soar upto Rs 35 per Kg, which, before the hike retailed for just Rs 26.50 per kg at the Salt Trading Corporation (STC) and National Trading Corporation (NTC) outlets.

Nepal’s sugar production from its eleven sugar mills stood approximately at 135 thousand tons last year. The production, however, is projected to touch 160 thousand tons this year, above the year’s estimated demand of around 150 thousand tons.

Tripartite review meet of SCDP held

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KATHMANDU, Dec 27 - A tripartite review meeting of the Sustainable Community Development Program (SCDP), carried out by the National Planning Commission (NPC) in support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), focused on developing appropriate strategies for program sustainability, on a phased out basis.

The meeting which concluded on Tuesday reviewed the program achievements of the year 2000 and discussed on the work plan for 2001. Participating in the meeting, Hari Shankar Tripathi, member of NPC, underlined the role of local governments in making the development programs more effective.

Alessandra Tisot, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP, said that UNDP was keenly observing the SCDP in terms of poverty alleviation and sustainable development that has integrated the environment management issues. "The SCDP has been successful because of the approaches it made, and the outcome of the discussion on ensuring sustainability would be reflected in the future work plan of the program", she said.

Dr Bhesh Dhamala, Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP shed light on assisting the government in poverty alleviation policy formulation.

Laxmi Maskey, joint secretary at the NPC, Hari Regmi. under secretary ministry of finance, Jeevan Bahadur Shahi, Humla DDC chairman and Hum Bahadur Gurung, national program manager SCDP also spoke on the occasion.

The SCDP, known as Nepal Capacity 21, initiated since 1996 to materialise the principles of earth summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, covers sustainable community development in Surkhet, Kailali, Dang, Humla, Myagdi and Okhaldhunga districts.

HRH Crown Prince Dipendra opens Chitwan Festival

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CHITWAN, Dec 27 - His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dipendra inaugurated the Chitwan Festival 2057, amidst a function here Tuesday. The festival was organised on the occasion of His Majesty Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev’s 56th birthday.

The festival organising committee and local people welcomed HRH Crown Prince on his arrival at the venue. On the occasion, co-ordinator of main organising committee, Prachnada Lal Pradhan, presented a rhino’s statue to the Prince.

After the inauguration ceremony HRH Crown Prince keenly observed various stalls displaying cultural and tourism related products. A total of 290 display-stalls have been set-up for the festival.

Addressing the function, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Tarini Datta Chataut, said that tourism was vital for the country’s prosperity. Minster Chataut expressed the view that a large number of tourists visit Nepal to experience the natural beauty and the mighty Himalayas. He added that Chitwan has gained it popularity for its unique culture, religious sites and the National Park that shelters the rare one-horned rhino.

President of the Federation of Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, said that industrial security was vital for the industrial development of the country.

District Development Committee Chairman Bishnu Ghimire said that irrigation facility to the eastern part the district and embankments along the Narayani River in the western part were the major challenges facing by the district.

The festival is jointly organised by Industry and Commerce Association Narayangadh, Chitwan District Development Committee, Bharatpur Municipality, Ratnanagar Municipality and Ratnanagar Industry and Commerce Association.