Nayagarh: Farmers in the district have expressed resentment over inadequate supplies of Urea to the Primary Cooperative Societies (PACS).
Farmers who have started transplanting paddy seedlings in their fields are immediately in need of spraying Urea for the crop. However, the poor supply of fertilizers has left the farmers in the lurch. With no option left, the farmers are now forced to buy fertilizers from the open market by paying higher prices.
Against a requirement of 8300 tonne of urea in the current season, 3000 tonne of fertilizers has been supplied to the district.
Taking advantage of the situation, traders are selling fertilisers at a premium. While the actual rate of Urea per packet is Rs 295, it is priced Rs 330. The price also varies from place to place. It is sold for Rs 340 a packet in Nuagaon and Rs 350 in Gania.
“Although the traders have been selling Urea illegally, the district administration has not taken any action despite repeated complaints,” said Jagannath Panda, a leader of farmers.
According to sources, paddy is cultivated in over 1.12 hectare in the district this Kharif season. The district administration had signed an agreement with six companies to supply Urea. Similarly, nine wholesale counters and 278 retail counters have been opened to make fertilizers available to the farmers in the district.
The prices were fixed at Rs 295 per Urea packet, Rs 1050 for IFCO NPK fertilizer, Rs 1076 for DAP and Rs 1122 for Gromor fertilisers. However, traders are selling these fertilizers at a profit of Rs 40-50 per packet.
When the farmers raised an objection to the jacked up prices, the traders allegedly warned the farmers of discontinuing the supplies. With no options left, the farmers are forced to buy fertilizers at higher rates.
When contacted, Nayagarh district agriculture officer Basudev Behera said action would be taken against such unscrupulous traders. Angered by the whimsical attitude of the traders, farmers have also threatened to take to the streets if adequate fertilizer supplies are not restored immediately.
PNN