SANGAM

NFC’s brave Dashain bid

SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, SEP 07 -
Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) is planning to supply 4,000 goats during Dashain in the Kathmandu Valley in view of the usual jump in demand for meat during the festival. According to an NFC official, last year’s requirement amounted to 17,000 animals which is likely to soar to 30,000 this year due to a rise in the population. Last year, NFC sold about 2,716 goats in the capital.

“If NFC does not intervene in the market, there are high chances that traders will gain a monopoly and control prices,” said deputy general manager Bijaya Dhoj Thapa. He added that it was NFC’s duty to provide an alternative supply so that traders cannot increase the market prices.

Last year, the corporation had sold goats at Rs. 240 to Rs. 250 per kg. Although there won’t be much difference between NFC’s subsidized rates and the prices charged by private traders, the move will help keep possible price hikes in check, Thapa said.

NFC could not collect as many goats as it had planned to last year, and so this year it is sending its people to new places on a

procurement mission. Last year, the goats came from Dang, Nepalgunj and Lahan.

Until a few years ago, NFC used to import mountain goats from the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Imports ceased due to high transportation costs.

Thapa said NFC aimed to have the goats in Kathmandu before Ghatasthapana, which marks the beginning of the festival of Bada Dashain. Unlike in the past, NFC will not be selling edible oil for the festival. The corporation used to sell edible oil at a subsidized rate. “We need to call a tender for the purchase process which takes a long time. And as the festival is very near, we will not be able to supply edible oil this year,” he said.

With respect to rice, NFC is selling sona mansuli at Rs. 34 per kg, jira masino at Rs. 50 per kg, basmati at Rs. 66 per kg and Japanese rice at Rs. 50 per kg.

NFC maintains sales outlets at Thapathali in Kathmandu, Nakhu in Lalitpur and Suryabinayak in Bhaktapur. From Ghatasthapana, they will remain open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Thapa said.