Stop politicizing sale of fertilizers to farmers: UCM
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 28 2013:
United Committee Manipur (UCM) has said that politicization in the sale of fertilizers by Ministers and MLAs is a clear instance of violation of rights of the farmers.
Addressing media persons at the office of UCM here today, Chairman of Development Committee of the UCM Chandramani Khumancha said that the people of Manipur are predominantly agriculturalists, but the officials of Agriculture Department are shying away from their primary responsibility of helping the farmers for proper agricultural growth in the State.
The farmers are still facing shortage of fertilizers even though the cultivation season is coming to an end soon.
He pointed out that 15000 metric tonnes of fertilizer is needed annually in the State which is roughly about 3 lakh 50-kg fertilizer bags.
However, the Agriculture Department has transported only 1,37,520 bags to the State so far.
The procured fertilizer is not even 50 percent of the required quantity.
As per RKVY scheme, the MLAs of Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) area and hill districts are given 300 fertilizer bags each for distribution to the farmers at free of cost, while the other MLAs are given a quota of 600 bags each.
Moreover, the MLAs of IMC area and hill districts are given a quota of 1000 bags each for distribution to the farmers at the subsidized rate, while the other MLAs receive a quota of 3000 bags each, he said.
The Chairman alleged that the fertilizers are made available only to those farmers who are close to the Ministers and MLAs.
Those farmers who did not render support to the MLAs during elections have been deprived of their rights.
The non-availability of fertilizer has been a major concern for the farmers of the State.
The authorities concerned should make arrangement to make the required quantity of fertilizer available to the farmers at the subsidized rate as soon as possible, he demanded.