Lukhoi spells out fertilizers position
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, August 23 2021: Replying to a call attention motion raised by MLAs K Ranjit Singh and Surjakumar Okram on the reported difficulties faced by farmers due to non-availability of fertilizers (urea) in Manipur, Agriculture Minister Oinam Lukhoi Singh clarified that the fertilizer requirement of the State is actually 5,50,000 bags out of which the Centre has already allocated 4,40,000 bags, so there is a stock gap of about 1,10,000 bags at present.

A total of about 3,14,000 bags of fertilizer have been received by the Agriculture Department, he said.

Oinam Lukhoi further stated that the actual price of the fertilizer is about Rs 650 per bag while the Government has agreed to distribute the fertilizers at a subsidized rate of Rs 266.04 per bag.

As per the Government rules and guidelines laid down by the Point of Sale (POS) portal, documents like AADHAR card, land patta, price value of land etc are required for getting access to fertilizers by the farmers, he added.

Acquiring fertilizers by logging in through the Point of Sale (POS) portal is indeed a time-consuming exercise that cannot be avoided on a short-cut basis and this formal process creates problems for the farmers, he explained.

Lukhoi spells out fertilizers position

He also stated that farmers cannot violate the rules and guidelines laid down in the portal.

Okram Lukhoi clarified that it costs around Rs 100.80 for transporting a fertilizer bag including loading-unloading charge.

So a total of about Rs 8 to 9 crore are borne by the Agriculture Department just for transportation charges.

Plan is in the pipeline for mobile distribution of fertilizers to farmers in different districts through DCs concerned, District Agriculture Officers (DAOs), elected members and CSOs.

He further assured that he will look into the matter if there is any hindrance in the availability of fertilizers in areas like Kumbi etc.

On the allegations that distribution of fertilizers has been politicised, the Agriculture Minister clarified that the Agriculture Department works transparently and there is no such issue of vested interests and black-marketing.

Apart from agricultural purposes, fertilizers are also used in fish-farming, he added.

He also said that the Government actually grants about 45 kg fertilizer per sangam instead of 30 kg as per the Department's guidelines keeping in view the welfare of the farmers.

About 1,87,181 fertilizer bags have been distributed so far as on 12th August 2021 and around 32,060 bags are in stock (at hand) to be distributed to all the districts of the state.

So altogether a total of about 2,19,240 bags are allocated by the Government for farmers of all the districts.

Later the House led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh unanimously passed The Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Bill No 19 of 2021) and the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Bill No 24 of 2021).The House also passed The Manipur Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Third Amendment) Bill, 2021(Bill No 20 of 2021) and The Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Bill No 21 of 2021) moved by Finance Minister Yumnam Joykumar.

House passed The Manipur Legislature (Removal of Disqualifications) (Sixth Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Bill No 18 of 2021), The Manipur (Courts) (Second Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Bill No 23 of 2021) and The Manipur Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Bill, 2021(Bill No 22 of 2021) .