Agriculture Department rebuts claims over fertilizer distribution in Kumbi
Source: The Sangai Express

Moirang, July 02 2020: District Agriculture Officer of Bishnupur U Somendro has stated that farmers in the district are provided fertilizers on time by the Agriculture Department to ensure successful harvest of paddy this Kharif season.

Speaking to media persons during a press meet held at Bishnupur Agriculture Office, Somendro lamented that the department started distributing fertilizers on June 16 last to cover 21,015 hectares of recognised arable land in the district.

At the rate of 2 bags per hectare, 6,732 bags of fertilizer have been distributed to 3,301 farmers in Moirang Sub division, 3,488 bags to 2,240 farmers in Bishnupur Sub division and 3,587 bags to 2,302 farmers in Nambol Sub division at a Government rate as of July 1, he said adding that 17,367 bags of fertilizer were allocated for the district.

Saying that 3,097 fertilizer bags are at stock currently, Somendro maintained that the Department is giving its best efforts to ensure all farmers get their due share of fertilizers.

Of the three mentioned divisions, Moirang Sub division has the highest number of farmers so they basically get more fertilizers than the remaining two Sub-division, the DAO said and added that the claim that only 5 percent of farmers in Kumbi AC got fertilizer is baseless.

He then appealed to all to refrain from making unfounded statements in future.

Three counters are opened for the farmers of the three Subdivisions to collect fertilizers, Somendro continued.

Though the department make every effort to ensure farmers obeyed COVID safety guidelines, there was a case of farmers violating the guidelines recently, however, the situation was put under control and the distribution continued after the intervention of district police, he said and added that at least 200 farmers in each counter who own Aadhaar card and land patta are provided fertilizer.

He also said that the report of fertilizer distribution is updated daily to the Director of Agriculture Department.

Tenant farmers could also procure fertilizers at Government rate if they could furnish a land patta from their land owners, the DAO lamented.

On the other hand, MLA of Moirang Assembly Constituency, P Sharatchandra distributed fertilizers to select 110 farmers, especially tenant farmers of the Constituency at a Government rate, today.

The fertilizers were distributed to ensure farmers grow their crops successfully with the help of the District Agriculture Officer, Bishnupur.

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