Fertilizers on way to Imphal from Jiri
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 30 2018: At the initiative of the State Government, transportation of fertilizers from Namrup, Assam to the State by train has begun so as to tide over acute scarcity of fertilizers currently encountered in the State.

A large number of farmers recently raised an uproar at the Sanjenthong office of Agriculture Department against the department's failure to provide fertilizers even after money was deposited in advance.

Subsequently, Assistant Fertilizer Officer (AFO) K Kullabidhu was suspended on August 27 in connection with the department's failure to provide fertilizers to farmers.

Many CSOs too asked the State Government to ensure that adequate fertilizers are made available to farmers at subsidised rates.

Taking serious note of the growing pressure from different directions, the State Government took up special measures to ensure that fertilizers are available to farmers.

Subsequent upon the State Government's initiative, a train comprising of 21 compartments laden with Urea reached Jiribam from Namrup today.

Loading Urea on trucks for onward journey to Imphal has already begun from Jiribam, informed a source.

These Urea loaded trucks are expected to reach Imphal within the next couple of days and problem of scarcity of fertilizers is likely to be resolved soon.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Department started distribution of fertilizers to farmers through District Agriculture Offices on production of pattas of paddy fields since yesterday.

Farmers can be seen in long queues in front of DAOs.

But some farmers have lodged complaints that the price of subsidised Urea charged by different DAOs is not uniform.

The price of Urea per bag of 45 Kg capacity is Rs 266.80.There are complaints that one Urea bag costs Rs 310 at Thoubal and Rs 290 at Bishnupur.

Sources informed that the State Government has been working to ship in 1500 MT of Urea by special train.

Notably, Chief Minister N Biren posted on his Facebook page yesterday that 1307 MT (29051 bags) of fertilizers would reach Jiribam railway station as first consignment and the second consignment would reach Jiribam within two days.

He also thanked Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal for providing special train for transportation of fertilizers from Namrup to Jiribam.

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