Keonjhar: Even though the government says that it has been supplying adequate quantity of fertilizer, farmers in some pockets of Keonjhar district say they are facing a shortage.
Adequate fertilizers are not available at LAMPS and panchayats, farmers said. Only one packet of fertilizer is available to a farmer after production of Aadhaar card, they pointed out.
Upset over this, hundreds of farmers from four panchayats thronged the Dimbo panchayat office to get fertilizers Thursday.
“Only a packet of fertilizer is supplied to each of us. Most of us had come a long way hiring auto-rickshaws. The auto fare is Rs 300 to carry a fertilizer packet worth Rs 270. What is the use of this?” Daoupadi Mohant, a farmer, said.
Another farmer, Rangadhar Mohant, said when a farmer having several acres gets only a packet of fertilizer what can he do with it.
Farmers from Bodapalasa, Nelunga, Dimbo, Maidankel and Raghunathpur panchayats had come to the panchayat office hoping to get fertilizers.
“Irregular rains have delayed farming. To add to the problem, the government is not supplying adequate fertilizer. If it is not available adequately in time how we will do farming,” asked Mohan Mohant, a farmer.
Even though they had intimated the problem to the agriculture department nothing was done to sort it out, said Bhimasen Mohant.
Sita Mohant said, “Farmers have no other alternative. We cultivated paddy depending on the assurance of the government regarding supply of fertilizer. The government says adequate fertilizer will be given, but the reality is different.”
Deputy director of agriculture, Chittaranjan Sahu, said adequate supply is being provided, but it has to be seen why there are allegations of shortage.
PNN
