Director Agriculture appeals
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 24 2020: Assuring that there will be no shortage of fertiliser, Agriculture Department Director Laltanpuii Vachong has appealed farmers not to panic.

Speaking to media persons at the Department's office at Sanjenthong, Laltanpuii informed farmers that even though the fertiliser manufacturing plants were shut due to COVID-19 pandemic earlier, the manufacturing has been resumed and there is no problem in procuring the fertiliser.

There will be no shortage of fertilisers in the State, said Laltanpuii.

Laltanpuii also informed that the damaged section of the railway line at Lamding area due to landslide has been reconstructed and the fertiliser are being brought to the State by train.

Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Bishnupur district offices of the Department are providing fertliser to farmers.

Imphal West, Bishnupur and Thoubal district offices started the distribution on June 16 while Imphal East district office started on June 17, said Laltanpuii.

The Agriculture Department is using a software developed by the IT Department to check farmers availing the same benefit multiple times.

Farmers are required to show land documents (pattas) and Aadhaar cards to get the fertiliser, Laltanpuii said.

Laltanpuii however acknowledged that many of the farmers from far off areas are facing transport related problems due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Acknowledging that some tenant farmers are facing difficulty in procuring the land pattas from the land owners to avail the fertiliser, Laltanpuii appealed the owners of the fileds to give the pattas to the tenant farmers so that they can procure the fertiliser needed.

To ease some of the farmers' grievances, the Department will allow cluster applications.

One person may submit the land pattas and Aadhaar cards of multiple farmers on their behalf to procure the fertiliser, Laltanpuii said adding this will allow the farmers to arrange a vehicle for easy transport.

Laltanpuii further stated that the Department with Extension offices in the districts will be identifying farmers who have no patta but have been working in the same fields for years to provide fertiliser.

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