Fertilisers sold in black market: K Ranjit
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 01 2021: A day after Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that the State share of urea has been diverted for poppy cultivation, Sugnu AC MLA K Ranjit has accused the State Government of blackmarketing fertilizers.

Addressing media persons at Kakching Khunou Community Hall, K Ranjit continued that the farmers should no longer bank on the Government as their grievances are unlikely to be addressed.

He further said that there are possibilities of urea being diverted to hill districts for poppy cultivation as pointed out by Loumi Shinmee Apunba Lup (LOUSAL).

Saying that the total arable land available in the State is 1.75 lakh hectare, of which only about 80,500 hectare require fertilizer as jhum cultivation in hill areas and fields where MOMA grows fruits and vegetables don't use urea, K Ranjit maintained that 2.41 lakh bags of urea are sufficient for this 80,500 hectare of arable land.

Fertilisers sold in black market: K Ranjit

According to the Agriculture Minister in the recent Assembly session, 3.14 lakh bags of fertilizer had been brought in to Imphal, he said and asked why the farmers are still facing fertilizer shortage when the Centre had allocated more fertilizers than what is required.

Had the State share of fertilizers been distributed to the farmers transparently, there would be no issue, he said and added that the State is going through a big fertilizers related issue.

Saying that Chief Minister N Biren Singh and the Agriculture Minister had assured the House in the recent Assembly session that fertilizers will be made available to the farmers within a week time, the Congress MLA asked 'where are the fertilizers' .

Continuing that assurance given in the House of the representatives should not be taken lightly, K Ranjit maintained that the fertilizers distributed to the farmers is inadequate.

He also said that distributing fertilizers to farmers after 4-5 days will be of little use as it would be like sprinkling water on the house which had already been consumed by fire.

Appealing to the Government to distribute fertilizers to farmers on time, the Congress MLA said that the 7 thousand fertilizer bags which have been allocated for Thoubal and Kakching have not reached the farmers yet.

Claiming that the BJP does not care about the well being of the farmers, Ranjit said that the Government is failing to deliver the requisite fertilizers for Kharif season despite the State lifting 70 thousand bags more than what is required.

If the excess fertilizers are not at godowns, where have they been shifted, he asked.

The MLA also accused the workers of BJP intending candidate from Sugnu AC of blackmarketing fertilizers.

Despite the Government fixing the price of a fertilizer bag at Rs 266.81, the same is being sold in Sugnu at between Rs 450 and 500, the MLA alleged.