Farmers agitates against govt policy
Urea still sold at ' 720 per bag in Manipur
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 12 2011:
A group of local farmers in Manipur rose up in protest, burning the effigy of state agriculture minister Ph Parijat, following the failure of the state government to facilitate availability of urea in the market at a ubsidized rate as assured by the cabinet decision.
A group of farmers from Sekmai area Tuesday came out in strong protest at Lairenkabi against the state government for failing to make urea available in the market at Rs 520 per bag despite the assurance given to the farmers of the state.
An aggrieved farmer at the protest site said, "We are forced to buy urea at Rs 650-720 per bag against the government fixed rate of Rs 520 perbag" .
June-July is the time of the season when the need for fertilizer is the greatest, he said, and added that "If we can not get it by the end of this month, there is no need of it thereafter" .
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It can be recalled that few weeks ago the state government through a cabinet decision set aside Rs 2 crore as fertilizer subsidy for farmers in the state and gave the assurance that urea would be made available to farmers at Rs 520 per bag.
The agriculture minister also convened a press conference last week following panic in the farmers' circle over the high price of urea, assuring that the fertilizer would be made available in the market at the government approved rate within 3-4 days.