Landslides lead to Urea shortage
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 21 2017:
Panic-stricken farmers of Imphal West have resorted to buying Urea at high rate from dealers in the backdrop of frequent landslides along National Highways .
In normal times, Urea is made available to farmers at subsidised rate of Rs 304 per bag by the Department of Agriculture.
However, against the backdrop of many Manipur bound trucks loaded with Urea being stranded at Dimapur due to landslides along the highway, farmers now buy Urea from dealers at the rate of Rs 800 per bag .
Interacting with The Sangai Express, a distressed farmer said that many farmers have bought Urea from dealers authorised by the Agriculture Dept at the rate of Rs 800 per bag .
He said that farmers who went to the Department's Directorate to collect Urea were told that there is no stock of Urea at present as many trucks loaded with Urea have been stranded at Dimapur due to landslides along the highway.
As such, many panic-stricken farmers have bought Urea at the rate of Rs 800 per bag from dealers authorised by the Department at Moidangpok and Khumbong in Imphal West district, he said .
Speaking to The Sangai Express, Assistant Fertiliser Officer of Agriculture Dept, Karam Kulabidhu said about 52,626 bags of Urea have so far been transported to Manipur this year.
About 1300 MT of Manipur bound Urea remained stranded at Dimapur due to landslides along the highway .
This has caused shortage of Urea in the State, he said.
Kulabidhu further said that it is not still clear when transportation of the stranded Urea trucks to the State would resume .
The fertiliser has been distributed to authorised farmers and others at the MRP, ie, Rs 304 per bag, he said .
The Department has ensured that the fertilisers are provided to the farmers at the MRP fixed by the Ministry of Chemical Fertiliser, Kulabidhu said.
Only sky-blue colour neem coated Urea is manufactured now in India.
Neem coating leads to more gradual release of Urea, helping plants gain more nutrient and resulting in higher yields.
It also minimises health hazards, Kulabidhu said.