Bhairahwa, Aug. 21 -- Farmers in Marchwar, Rupandehi, who lost crops during last month's dry spell, are now facing a new challenge-a black market for fertiliser. With local supplies scarce, Indian urea is selling for two to three times the subsidised price.

Subsidised urea is officially available at Rs900 per bag through local cooperatives, but farmers who are unable to obtain it are paying between Rs2,500 and Rs3,500 for Indian urea delivered directly to their homes.

Locals say some traders bring fertiliser across the border overnight, store it near the border, and then distribute it to local markets or households at inflated rates.

Rama Shankar Yadav from ward 7 of Sammarimai Rural Municipality said a 45-kilogramme bag costs 280 Indi...