State Govt to handle import of fertilisers from next year
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 06 2018: Director of Agriculture Department, Pheiroijam Rajendro has informed that import of fertilisers (urea) into Manipur will be handled by the State Government beginning next year so as to eliminate its price hike in the State.

Speaking to media persons at his office at Sanjenthong today, the Agriculture Director narrated that the Department inspected various fertiliser warehouses and dealers at Kakching and Thoubal after receiving complaints that fertilizers were being sold at two to four times their MRP.

During the trip which was organised under the supervision of Additional Chief Secretary Letkhogin Haokip, the Director personally went to the dealers (along with the officials) and urged the dealers to refrain from selling the fertilisers above MRP.

However, as reports are coming that the fertilisers are still being sold above the normal prices, the State Government is planning to take over and handle all import of fertilisers in the State, Rajendro added.

The Department has been discussing the matter with the Chief Minister and the Agriculture Minister and the State Government will take a decision at the earliest, he conveyed.

Pointing out that the State requires about 15, 000 MT of fertilisers annually, the Director explained that the Central Government supplies around 20,000 MT of the item every year but all of the said quantity cannot be imported every year as 15,000 MT of fertilisers is more than enough for the State.

The fertilisers are imported from Brahmaputra Valley Fertilisers Co Ltd (BVFCL), Namrup, Assam by the Agriculture Department as well as 37 private firms/dealers of Manipur.

The dealers/firms are recommended by the Department but the lifting order is given to the dealers selected by BVFCL.

However, the Ministry of Chemical and Fertilisers provides subsidy only for the Department.

There may be multitude of reasons for the price hike but selling above MRP is prohibited by the Ministry, he added.

The Director explained that taking stock of the issue, the Department will import all the fertilisers and distribute it to the retailers after which the retailers can sell the fertilisers to the farmers.

The MRP of a 45 kg fertilizer bag is Rs 266.80, Rajendro added.

On the other hand, to eliminate the inconveniences faced by the farmers due to high prices of fertilizers, the Department will also distribute the fertilisers directly to the farmers.

The Director informed that farmers can approach the Agriculture Department Head Office at Sanjenthong or the District Agriculture Offices to procure fertilisers.

Urging the farmers to take only the amount that is necessary for their farms, he informed that the farmers must bring their Aadhaar cards and a photocopy of their land patta while coming to the office.

However, the Department will not entertain those people who request for 50 or 100 bags of fertilizers, even if they have all necessary documents, the Director said and added that there are people who buy and sell fertilisers pretending to be farmers.

Such fertilisers may even be smuggled into Myanmar, he added.

Comment