Above-normal rains could come as a boon, but fertiliser crisis may dampen farmers’ hopes (Katmandu Post) 

Kathmandu Post published an article stating that Nepal is likely to receive above-normal monsoon rains this year, according to meteorologists from South Asia. Ideally, this raises prospects for growth in the economy battered by the Covid pandemic. A bountiful rainfall will not only boost farm output but also help replenish groundwater and reservoirs critical for drinking and power generation. But there are concerns. Officials say Nepal may not be able to reap the gains this year. The crunch of one crucial item—chemical fertilizers—is set to make the economy suffer and could even lead to a full-blown food crisis. According to IFPRI, while there is an immediate concern about the impact of high food prices on food security, especially in low- and middle-income countries, fertilizer prices spike, and concerns about availability cast a shadow on future harvests, and thus risk keeping food prices high for a longer period.