Urea sold at inflated rate of Rs 600 to Rs 800 per bag Farmers cry foul against fertiliser scarcity

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Imphal, August 28 2013: Besides purchasing a bag of Urea at an inflated price ranging from Rs 500 to 800, farmers of the nine districts of the State have yet again raised complaints over the recurrent scarcity of fertilisers in State.

Meanwhile, the North East Dialogue Forum has submitted a memorandum highlighting amongst others the problems faced by the farmers due to scarcity of fertilizers to the Prime Minister, Union Agriculture Minister, Union Home Minister, DoNER Minister, the State Governor, Manipur Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister.

The forum also demanded investigation into the scarcity of fertilisers in the State, formulation of Farmers Policy for Manipur, etc through its representation.

A farmer from Senapati district, R Rajo Kharam while addressing a press meet organised by North East Dialogue Forum at Manipur Press Club today lamented that farmers have down the years faced the problem of fertilizers scarcity.

Urea bags which are in scarcity in the State but available at inflated rates

Repeated appeals to the authority concerned to make the fertilizers available at subsidised rate to the farmers have fallen on deaf ears, he rued.

Insisting the authority concerned to investigate the matter at the earliest, Rajo Kharam also urged for the formulation of a State Agriculture and Farmers policy.

Pointing out that a bag of Urea is sold at Rs 500 – Rs 800 in Senapati district, he also conveyed the desperation of the farmers in getting the necessary fertilisers at such inflated price.

Achungngam Jajo of Ukhrul district said farmers of Ukhrul discontinue using fertilizers due to unavailability of chemical fertilizers in the district.

As such, the farmers mainly relied on manure to fertilise land for farming purpose, he said.

Surjit from Thoubal district said that paucity of fertilizers in the district, inflation of price of fertilisers and flooding of agriculture land are the problems faced by farmers of the district.

2000 to 3000 paris of agriculture land have been inundated by flood water this year, he said.

A farmer from Churachandpur, Chongleirang Kom said Urea is sold at Rs 600-650 per bag by dealers in the district.

He said the Government announcement to avail Urea at the rate of Rs 289 per bag is a distant dream.

Even if there is a scheme to avail 600 bags each of urea through local MLA, the same is not available to the farmers, he pointed out adding crop insurance benefit is also not extended to the farmers.

Chandramani of Bishnupur district said a bag of Urea is sold at Rs 650 – Rs 750 in the district.

To top this, the fertilizer is now not available in the district.

He urged the Government to intervene so as to assuage the farmers.

M Renubala of Imphal West district said Urea is sold in the district at the rate of Rs 650- Rs 700.Although Urea is sold at inflated rate, the same is not available in abundance.

She said a bag of Potassium is sold at Rs 1240 .

Zanet Kangsong of Tamenglong district said farmers of the district do not use fertilizer due to transportation and market problems.

Kopham W of Chandel urged the authority concerned to improve the transportation and market problem in the district.

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