NOW FERTILIZER HORTAGE AS WELL DURING PADDY TRANSPLANTING SEASON Kathmandu, 7 June: Even as cooking gas shortage continues for nearly four months, farmers are complaining of lack of chemical fertilizers during the paddy transplanting season. Paddy transplantation has begun in fields where water is available before the monsoon breaks. The annual rain broke over southwest India and should enter east Nepal early next week. Government is too involved in politics. Officials say fertilizers won’t be available for another six weeks. Delay in supplying fertilizers will adversely impact production of rice, the country’s staple crop. NOC said India has again curtailed gas exports after failure to settle dues—a move that will also inconvenience people as government assures good governance and relief to people. nnnn MEDIA GOOGLE “Nobody came to the constituent assembly to earn money. I also didn’t become president to earn money . I am a doctor by profession. I could have aarned money by selling medicine as well.” (President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, Gorkhapatra, 7 June) nnnn