AMPFA suspects poppy-urea smuggling nexus
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 20 2023:
While expressing suspicion that the urea seized recently as well as in the past by government agencies on the charge of unauthorised possession or transportation might be diverted and utilised in poppy cultivation, All Manipur Progressive Farmers' Association (AMPFA) has maintained that the war on drugs campaign launched by the government will not be successful without giving stringent punishment to urea smugglers.
In a release, AMPFA secretary Kh Biren said that there is urgent need to find out who is behind those 451 urea bags seized from two Tata DI vehicles coming from Sora towards Pallel by Kakching police team on January 16.Pointing out that the state has been facing shortage of urea for the last many years, yet no policy has been framed for finding solution to the crisis, he lamented that the authorities concerned have failed to come up with a policy despite numerous suggestions given by the farmers.
The association has also been generating awareness to the farmers about the ill effects of excess use of urea in their farm lands, he maintained and urged the government to ensure sufficient availability of urea to farmers in time and exhorted the farmers not to overuse chemical fertilizers.
While suggesting reduction of urea quota for the department concerned, secretary Biren asserted that the government authorities had been advising the farmers against excessive application of urea there is no justification in the department claiming adequate stock of urea when the same cannot be ensured to the genuine farmers.
For long some people have been profiting from urea as personal business and it should be looked into seriously, Biren maintained, while adding that without rectifying it, the urea crisis as well as the poppy menace will continue.
He further said that proper investigation in connection with the seized urea is a must and should confirm whether the urea was being transported for utilising in poppy cultivation or not.
The demand for urea is very high at present as it is needed for poppy cultivation.
"The government has been waging war against drug.
What is the meaning of such war on drugs when drugs were seized from police personnel and urea controlled by agriculture department seized for plantation of poppy?" the secretary posed, while adding that the experts' suggestions that it would never be successful until stringent punishment is given to the culprits are true.