Urea price : Free for all
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 01 2011: With the State Government not able to finalise the selling price of Urea, a bag of which costs Rs 276.10 MRP, farmers have been compelled to purchase Urea bags paying anywhere between Rs 550 to 580 per bag following early onset of monsoon.

When The Sangai Express conducted an inspection in some shops selling fertiliser in the outskirts of Imphal, it was found that one bag of Urea, whose MRP is just Rs 276.10 only, is being sold to the farmers anywhere between Rs 550 to 580 .

According to information received from the State Agriculture Department, the Government is yet to finalise the rate at which one bag of Urea would be made available to the farmers.

As the rate has not yet been finalised although lifting of Urea for the Khariff season started from April, there is still no question of giving permission to the dealers to sell Urea.

Yet, during the course of the inspection, The Sangai Express did come across Urea bags being sold at rate of anywhere between Rs 550 to Rs 580 per bag.

That too openly.

Information received from the State Agriculture Department further said that although the MRP of one Urea bag is just Rs 276.10 only, dealers are at a loss if one bag of Urea is not sold at Rs 520, at least, taking into consideration the transportation charge and other extra expenditures involved in bringing them to Imphal.

When the dealers release one bag of Urea at Rs 520, the price is bound to increase by the time it reaches the hands of the farmer.

Therefore taking into consideration the financial burden likely to be imposed on the farmers, the Agriculture Department is preparing to submit a proposal to the Government for exempting 5 percent of the local sale taxes and providing extra subsidy on transportation of the same.

If the Government accepts the proposal of the Department, then one bag of Urea may be made available to the farmers at Rs 400 .

In addition to this proposal, a joint meeting attended by Agriculture Minister, Commissioner, Director and dealers would be held to discuss and ensure that Urea is made available to the farmers at the minimum rate possible, the source added.

It may be recalled here that during an interaction with The Sangai Express sometime back, Agriculture Minister Ph Parijat had informed that a proposal would be submitted to the Government for providing a subsidy of Rs 2 crores so that one bag of Urea could be made available to the farmers at Rs 400 .

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