Lumbini, May 30: An organic fertilizer industry based in Kotahawa, Rohini Rural Municipality-4 of Rupandehi, has officially commenced operations. The plant, run by industrialists Siddharth Agarwal and Punam Kumari Agarwal of Bhairahawa, was inaugurated today by Lumbini Chief Minister Chetnarayan Acharya.

Established under Grow More Fertilizer and Chemical Pvt. Ltd., the factory was set up with an investment of Rs 300 million. It has a production capacity of 200 metric tonnes per day, currently manufacturing 80 metric tonnes daily under the Ratnam brand, according to Siddharth Agarwal.

Speaking at the inauguration, Chief Minister Acharya emphasized the health and environmental benefits of organic fertilizers, linking the rise in diseases like cancer to chemical-based agriculture. He said the provincial government is committed to promoting organic farming and has already declared some municipalities as organic zones.

Other notable speakers, including former MP Ghanshyam Yadav, Rohini Chairperson Bidya Yadav, and Pramod Yadav, underlined the importance of the industry in resolving fertilizer shortages for farmers.

Director Siddharth Agarwal called on the government to waive import taxes on raw materials and support marketing of domestic fertilizers, while Managing Director Punam Kumari Agarwal emotionally remembered her father, who died during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The launch marks a significant step toward sustainable agriculture and local fertilizer production in Nepal.