Shortage of fertilizers looms
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 02 2013:
With the State Government failing to procure the State quota of fertilizer (3000 metric tonnes of Urea) for the month of April as marked by the Central Government for Kharif season, the farmers in the State are likely to face acute shortage of fertilizer.
According to highly placed sources, Kharif season falls within the month of April and September every year.
The State quota of Urea sanctioned by the Union Government for Kharif season is 30,000 metric tonnes and the allocated quota is to be lifted from the fertilizer company on monthly basis.
However, since the State Government has faile to lift the quota for the month of April in time, it has lapsed.
On the root cause of failure in lifting the monthly State quota of fertilizer in time, sources pointed out that Even if the Government appointed dealers for procuring fertilizers from outside the State and supply them to the farmers, it appointed the Agriculture Department as the official dealer for procuring fertilizer last year in view of the problem of shortage of fertilizers and made one Urea bag of 50 kg at a subsidized rate of Rs 278.80 to the farmers.
On the other hand, the fertilizer dealers appointed by the State urged the Government for giving them subsidy in providing fertilizers to the farmers.
However, the State Government did not respond to their request following which the Manipur Fertilizers Dealers Welfare Association resolved not to transport in any kind of fertilizer in the State including Urea.
Since the State Government has also failed to ship in the allocated fertilizer quota for Kharif season in time, 6000 bags of Urea have not been procured and as a result, the farmers are all likely to face heat of shortage of fertilizers this time as well.