Bajura / Two hundred quintals of rice have been supplied to the Food Management and Trading Company, Martadi, which was short of rice for the past two weeks. The rice depots in Kawadi of Himali Rural Municipality and Muktikot of Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality are still short of rice. 

According to Mekha Raj Ojha, head of the Company in Bajura, on Saturday, 200 quintals of 'jira masino' rice have been transported to the Martadi depot in the first phase.The supply was made immediately after the depot lacked rice without going through the bidding process. The supply will be approved later, it has been said.

The transported rice is sold for Rs 92 per kg, he said. Masino rice fetches Rs 95 per kg in the market, it has been said. After running out of rice in the godown in Martadi, the godown was locked after issuing a notice in this regard on 31 August, 2023.Although rice has reached the branch office in Martadi, other temporary sales centres and depots lack rice, said local people.Kolti depot has 200 quintals of rice in stock, it has been said. 

More rice will be delivered to the branch office in Martadi as per requirement, and rice will be supplied to other sales centres only after going through the contract process. The contract process has not been concluded yet, said Ojha.In the previous fiscal year, 2022/23, 17,000 quintals of rice, the highest in Sudurpaschim, were sold. For the current FY, 2023/24, a quota of 12,000 quintals has been set out of which 200 quintals have arrived. 

At present, the province office, Dhangadhi, the food management and trading company, is supplying rice to Bajura, Achham, Bajhang, Dadeldhura and Darchula districts to be approved later on the eve of festivals.