Farmers storm Agri Dept office
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 29 2017: Irate farmers stormed into the Agricultural Department office located at Sanjenthong today demanding delivery of Urea fertilizer .

The farmers had arrived at the Agriculture office with their Aadhar cards to collect urea.

The shutter at the stairs leading to the office was half shut with the officials and policemen behind it and they started receiving the Aadhar cards from the farmers.

But they were told that there were no arrangements to distribute any urea today and the announcement by the department was that it would be distributed on Monday .

The response irked the farmers and then they started shouting slogans demanding urea .

Vice President of the Nongchup Imphal Loumi Chaokhat Lup, Konthoujam Thoithoi said that the shortage of urea is due to the failure of the Agriculture Department to stock the fertilisers in the godown sufficiently in time.

Whatever little urea that was brought into the State by the department has all been misappropriated by the MLAs using DO letters.

That is why the department is not able to supply urea on time to the registered farmers .

Rice production will drastically fall this year due to shortage of fertilizer, he said .

The farmers had come to the Agriculture department for help at this time of crisis.

Instead they were told that their Aadhar has been received and they should come on Monday.

The farmers also locked up the urea godown at Lamphelpat .

He also said that it is not certain if it is the urea taken from godown using DO letters from Ministers and MLAs, but farmers are buying urea in black at prices ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 800 per bag and not at the MRP of fertilizer fixed by the Govt which is Rs 304 .

Thoithoi further said that shortage of urea is an added disadvantage after recent floods .

On the other hand, the Assistant Fertilizer Officer, Agriculture Department, Karam Kulabidhu told media persons that the Department has procured more than 52,000 bags of urea from outside.

But it has been taken away using DO letters of MLAs and Ministers.

Only some of the urea taken through DO letters has been supplied to the farmers .

As of now, many trucks loaded with Urea have been stranded at Dimapur because of landslide on the highway .

The urea factories have been shut down because of the floods.

But the factories have re-opened and transportation of Urea to the State will resume from Wednesday.

So, whatever stock is there at present will be distributed from Monday onwards .

Wabagai Kendra BJP Mandal president Yelangbam Shyam said that it is difficult to go all the way to the Agriculture Department from Wabagai which is 50 kilometres away and some even cannot afford the fare.

So they had requested their MLAs to get urea for them.

He had come assuring the farmers that he would bring around 100 bags of urea at around 3 pm .

He also requested to provide urea to the distressed farmers who had come from all corners.

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