Lathore: Farmers in over 30 villages of five panchayats under Khaprakhol block in Bolangir district have alleged a shortfall in urea fertilizer that has affected agricultural activities in the region. Some farmers have also alleged an artificial shortage of urea. The farmers complained that Lahore primary cooperative society has failed to meet the fertilizer requirements of over 13,000 farmers in 30 villages under Lathore, Benedar, Karuajhar, Tankapai and Malpada panchayats. The secretary of Lathore primary cooperative society had issued a letter-231 dated March 31, 2022, to the branch manager of Bolangir Central Cooperative Bank and the block agriculture officer to supply 700 quintal of urea.
However, only 333 quintal has been supplied to the society and that too in two phases. As a result, the requirement of the farmers could not be met in time. One packet of urea is supposed to cost Rs 267, as per official decision but farmers are buying it from open market at Rs 600. As monsoon remains active, transplantation of paddy saplings has picked up across the state.
Urea is used as a fertilizer during pre-sowing land preparation as well as post-transplantation of paddy saplings. Saplings will be affected by stunted growth without the urea, but the dealers in the market keep raising prices, it was alleged. The urea shortage has enraged farmers, it was said. However, society secretary Jagdish Rana said, “Even half of the amount of fertilizers we require has not been supplied till date.”
