Shortage of Essential Goods Ahead of Festivals
Summary
As Dashain and Tihar approach, ghee, butter and milk powder have become scarce in Biratnagar and across Koshi Province, with prices rising sharply and stockouts reported by both state-run and private dairies. Producers blame either falling milk output or halted informal imports from India, while some expect the shortage to ease within two weeks.
Key Points
- Demand for ghee, butter and milk powder has surged before Dashain and Tihar, but supply has not kept pace, pushing prices up sharply in the market.
- The Dairy Development Corporation says milk production has fallen and its Biratnagar project has run out of ghee, butter and milk powder stock.
- Suryodaya Dairy director Manoj Yadav says production has not dropped and the shortage is mainly due to the stoppage of unauthorized imports from India.
- Private dairies continue exporting ghee to Japan even as the domestic market faces tight supply, and some entrepreneurs expect the situation to improve in 10–15 days.
