Govt's directive flouted, farmers continue to protest
Urea still sold at inflated prices
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, July 14 2011:
Barely a day after Manipur Agriculture Minister warned fertilizer dealers to make fertilizers available at subsidized rates, farmers of Thoubal district in Manipur Thursday came out in protest against inflated prices by burning the effigy of the state Agriculture Minister.
Farmers from Charangpat Bangi, Charangpat Maning Leikai and Charangpat Selbung of Thoubal district gathered together at Charangpat Chiram ground today to express strong condemnation against Agriculture Minister Ph Parijat asking him to resign from his office for failing to address to the plight of the farmers.
The farmers' protest today came barely a day after the Agriculture Minister warned yesterday that if dealers in fertilizer were found selling fertilizers at rates higher than the government approved price, their permits would be cancelled.
An aggrieved farmer at the protest site told the media that despite the fact that the state is still largely dependent on agriculture, the needs of the farmers are continuously being overlooked.
"The government has promised that urea will be available in the market at a subsidized rate of ' 520 per bag of 50 kg as agaisnt the market rate of ' 630-650, but nothing has been done and urea still costs an inflated rate of ' 650," he said.
This is because of the unholy nexus between the Agriculture Minister, bureaucrats and dealers of fertilizer, he said, and asked Ph Parijat, the state Agriculture Minister, to resign from his office on moral grounds.
Today's protest came barely two days after a group of farmers from Sekmai area on Tuesday came out in strong protest at Lairenkabi Leikai gainst the state government for failing to make urea available in the market at ' 520 per bag despite the assurance given to the farmers of the state.
It is also worth recalling that a few weeks ago the state government through a cabinet decision set aside ' 2 crore as fertilizer subsidy for farmers of the state and gave the assurance that urea would be made available at ' 520 per bag.
The Agriculture Minister also convened a press conference last week, assuring that fertilizers would be made available in the market at the government approved rate within 3 to 4 days.