Champua: The fertilizer godown of Champua Markfed has been lying closed after the block administration imposed restrictions on transportation of fertilizer into its premises. The Markfed godown is located on the block office premises.
The block administration and the authorities of Markfed were caught in a confrontational state.
Such a stalemate over fertilizer transportation to the godown is likely to trigger artificial shortage of fertilizer for farmers in the kharif season.
As the block administration is firm on its stand, an official of the Markfed has intimated the issue to his higher-ups.
The godown has storage capacity of 250 tonnes of fertilizer.
The authorised dealers lift fertilizer and deliver to farmers.
In a farming season, about 3,000 tonnes of fertilizer are required to meet the demand of farmers in Champua.
Significantly, kharif season has started from Akshaya Tritiya.
Officials of Markfed alleged that the block officials do not allow entry of fertilizer-laden trucks into the block office premises. Trucks have to wait for hours on the road.
They said that if the issue is not sorted out, farmers will bear the brunt of fertilizer shortage.
“When fertilizer will not be available from the godown, farmers will be compelled to buy it from Jharkhand at a high price,” a Markfed official lamented.
Bamadev Pradhan, who is in-charge of the godown, said the higher authorities have been apprised of the issue.
If the matter is sorted out soon, then farmers will be able to get fertilizer as usual, he observed.
PNN