IPSA expresses concern
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 15 2020:
International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA) has expressed concern over the alleged anomalies in fertilizer distribution in the State and maintained that the body will soon be investigating the matter.
IPSA in a statement said that the Agriculture Minister and officials of the Agriculture Department are good only at rhetoric and never cared for the welfare of the farmers as issue mushrooms of fertilizer distribution occurred every year.
The Ministers, officials will praise the farmers calling the State an agrarian one on various platforms but the State is no more a safe place for farmers as issues continue to persist every year, said IPSA while charging that the Agriculture Department is the root cause for all issues.
It is very unfortunate to learn that farmers need to show land documents to avail fertilizers, IPSA lamented while questioning why farmers should get themselves busy finding and asking for land documents from landowners while they have to be on the paddy fields.
The concerned Department and the Minister should be held responsible if farmers failed to give full attention in the agricultural activities and there is low productivity which will subsequently cause rice scarcity and price hike very soon, said IPSA.
The Agriculture Department undoubtedly must have a detailed estimate for the yearly requirement of fertilizers depending on the size of the agricultural land, said IPSA while asking whether the lifting of fertilizers is done randomly or on the will of some persons.
IPSA also asked how Ministers, MLA's have easy access to the fertilizer while farmers had to struggle for days to get their due requirements.
It will be wrong to say that the State has an abundant supply of fertilizers when only a few farmers who are close and dear to MLAs, Ministers get their required amount, IPSA condemned.
Demanding all concerned to make sure fertilizers are made available abundantly to all farmers irrespective of their stature and connection, IPSA warned officials of the concerned Department that the body is all set to start a probe into the matter.