B'desh unlikely to import Nepali rice

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KATHMANDU, Nov 6 - In spite of a liberal attitude adopted by the government to allow rice exports, which was restricted quantitatively earlier, to help farmers in obtaining better price for their produce, Bangladesh's inability to procure Nepalese rice this year has come hard upon the domestic farmers.

"Bangladesh has officially expressed its inability to import Nepalese rice. However, any imports by the private sector would not be restricted by the Bangladeshi Government," said a high level official at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, talking to The Kathmandu Post.

The government last year, to curb any possible shortage of rice in domestic market, had quantitatively restricted its exports following huge purchases by the Bangladeshi Government. Bangladesh almost two years back had imported 80 thousand tons of rice to meet its food grains shortage caused due to unfavourable climatic conditions. However, the government this year has lifted the restrictions and has instead hoped that atleast 30 percent of the total production will be exported.

The price of domestic paddy, which has plunged by over 40 percent in the past few months, due to flooding imports of cheap rice from India, is a major concern of farmers who were expecting exports to Bangladesh to come to their relief.

With no foreign demands for Nepalese rice, both India and Nepal, due to favourable climatic conditions, expecting bumper crops this season, domestic farmers are afraid that prices would further go down after the new harvest sets in.

However, Nepal Food Corporation (NFC), with a view to help farmers get a better price for their produce, has said that it is communicating with the Bangladeshi Chambers of Commerce and Industry for exploring every possibility of exporting rice to Bangladesh through the private sector.

The price of paddy in the domestic market has fallen from over Rs 1,050 last year to around Rs 600 presently. In addition, complete removal of subsidy in fertilisers and partial revocation in irrigation facilities has dealt a hard blow to the farmers, who are unable to compete against cheap Indian rice. India still continues to subsidise agriculture.

The farmers have been demanding with the government to fix a support price for their produce and to restrict the flow of Indian rice into the country to save domestic farmers. Although the precarious condition of the farmers was discussed in the Cabinet and the government hinted to fix support price for their relief, it has not done so as of yet.

"The decisions relating to these two issues, namely support price and restricting Indian rice into Nepali markets, would be taken only after it is clear whether Bangladesh will import Nepali rice or not," said the source.

Even the announcement made by Bala Dev Sharma Majgainya, Minister of State for Agriculture and Cooperatives, recently to introduce a program for farmers' relief has not materialised as well.

World Bank assistance strategy discussed

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KATHMANDU, Nov 6 - Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) met Deborah A Bateman, South Asian Senior Country Officer of World Bank at FNCCI secretariat today.

On the occasion, they held discussion on the country assistance strategy of the World Bank, states an FNCCI press release issued here today.

Shrestha appreciated the role being played by the bank in the social as well as economic development of Nepal and expressed the hope that the bank would formulate concrete programs to encourage private sector in its coming assistance strategy.

During their talks President Shrestha also requested the Bank's cooperation to establish Information Service Center to extend necessary services to foreign as well as domestic investors.

On the occasion, Bateman said that the role of FNCCI in the economic development was impressive and expressed willingness to work closely with FNCCI in coming days, for the development of private sector.

Bateman also took stock of privatization, corruption control and economic and policy reforms in Nepal, adds the release.

ITDG begins agro processing programs

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KATHMANDU, Nov 6 - With an objective of helping poor people in bettering their conditions, Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) Nepal has initiated an innovative model of technology transfer from one part of the country to another by introducing agro-processing programs. 

According to the press release, a seven member Chepang of Wasbang, Lothar Village Development Committee (VDC) of Chitwan district recently left for Sisuwakhola and Mangtewa VDC of Sankhuwasabha district for a live-in-with-training. The Chepangs are expected to learn fine bamboo and cane crafts from Khulung Rais for two weeks, it is said.

The main objective of the training program is to transfer the local existing technology from one place to another to reduce poverty of rural populace.

The release adds that similar kind of training programs would be organized in the near future cover ing other parts of the country.

Hotel workers hold motorcycle rally

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KATHMANDU, Nov 6 - Nepal Independent Hotel Workers' Union (NIHWU) took out a rally of about 500 motorcycles today that passed through the major thoroughfares of the capital city. The rally was taken out at 7.30 AM and lasted to 11.30 AM. The protesters have demanded to mandatorily include a 10 percent service charge in the hotel industry.

Prem Paunjoo, central member of NIHWU informed that about 500 motorcyclists gathered at Putali Sadak and holding 'banners and placards'. The protesters visited different hotels. He said that the rally was a part of the protest programs. In order to get their demand fulfilled, they have planned a series of agitation programs under the union.

The motorcycle rally commenced from Shanker Dev Campus at Putali Sadak and ended reaching at Yak and Yeti Hotel. Meanwhile, the rally demonstrated at Everest Hotel, Hyatt Regency Hotels, Hotel Shangri-La, Radisson Hotel, Hotel Malla and Hotel Blue Star, among others.

Paunjoo also warned that if their demand is not met by November 18, the hotel workers would call a nationwide strike from November 19 for an indefinite period.

However, hoteliers lament the demand of 10 percent service charge instead of tips arguing that it will hit the tourism industry - one of the major foreign currency earners of the country.

In Pakistan and Bangladesh, hotels do not charge 10 percent service charge,  say hoteliers. Even in India, 10 percent service charge is not in practice barring a few hotels that even include banquet sales. Hoteliers say 10 percent service charge mandatory instead of tips, the hotel industry will collapse.