Bodies oppose Urea distribution criteria
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 05 2022:
Nongchup Imphal Loumee-Sinmi Chaokhat Thourang Lup has opposed the statement made by agriculture director on March 10 and as published in local dailies that urea will be distributed based on soil health card.
Stating that most of the farmers in the state do not possess the said document and it will be next to impossible to enrol for the same before the Kharif season, Lup secretary general K Brajamani Singh pointed out that though they know the benefit of soil testing, it will not be possible to implement it during such a short period of time.
The agriculture director must review the decision and think of another plan in advance that will facilitate smooth distribution of urea to farmers, suggested the secretary.
Meanwhile, Ideal Farmers' Progressive Committee has stated that state farmers are apprehensive of the Agriculture Department's order of distributing urea based on soil health card.
A release of the Committee stated that there is confusion over who will conduct the soil testing, will it be the Agricultural Department or should it be done by the farmers themselves.
Though testing of soil is a good initiative, it will be, however, impossible to cover all the farmers in such a short time.
It seems that the department is trying to protect itself from public pressure if there is any shortage of urea and this has made the farmers worried.
Earlier too the chief minister and the minister concerned announced that there will be no shortage of urea, but turned out to be not true, it added, while noting that this time also the agricultural minister has assured that there will be no shortage of urea, but it will be better if the agriculture director clears the confusion amongst the farmers and make plans in advance for distribution of urea.