Tihidi: Farmers in the Tihidi block of Bhadrak district are facing a shortage of urea at a time when agricultural operations are going on in full swing. There are allegations that some retailers have stocked urea, but are not selling it. This has created an artificial shortage of fertilisers.
Farmers said that due to erratic rainfall agricultural operations had started late in the area, but the recent rains have made farmers restart them and they now need fertilisers.
Whenever we go to retailers they say they have no fertilisers. Wholesalers also have no stock. This has happened at a time when conditions are appropriate for applying fertilisers, they added.
It is learnt that a huge quantity of fertilisers have come to Tihidi, but its disappearance after a short while has raised many eyebrows.
Farmers say that the delay in agricultural operations due to erratic rainfall requires application of fertilisers to boost plant growth.
When asked about the shortage of fertilisers, a wholesaler Murari Gupta said he got fertilisers 10 days ago and has supplied it to farmers and retailers. I have no stocks now, but it will be available after two or three days, he added.
PNN