Friday, August 22, 2008

Farmers staging a rally to protest the non-availability as well as the inflated price of fertilisers in the State


Shortage of fertilisers
Farmers protest, face grim prospect

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Aug 21 : Protesting the non-availability of fertilisers or selling them at inflated prices if at all it is available, a large number of farmers from Patsoi Assembly Constituency today took out a protest rally from Patsoi Bazar to Moidang-pok.
On the other hand, Assistant Fertiliser Officer of the State Government N Gopen has clarified that the problem of fertiliser shortage in the State has come about as a result of frequent bandh and blockade in the State, occurrence of landslides in Nagaland and some technical problem in the factory of Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation Limited at Namrup in Assam.
Organised under the aegis of Nongchup Imphal Loumee Shinmee Chaokhat Thourang Lup, the protest rally attended by a large number of farmers was taken out to highlight the problems being faced by the farmers in view of non-availability of fertilisers in the market even though this is the time of the season to use the fertilisers as well as against the inflated rate even if it is available.
Talking to The Sangai Express, Assistant Ferti-liser Officer N Gopen clarified that the problem of fertiliser shortage in the State has come about due to various factors like frequent imposition of bandh and blockade in Manipur, landslides along the Natio-nal Highway in Nagaland besides some technical problem in the factory of Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation Limited located in Namrup of Assam.
While informing that subsequent to the proposal of the State Government to the Government of India to provide 34,000 matric tonne of urea for this year a target is being kept for lifting 3996 matric tonne of urea within the current month, Gopen said and added that out of the total quantity to be lifted, 3312 matric tonne had already been loaded in 184 trucks.
However, out of these loaded trucks, only 71 have arrived at Imphal while the rest have been stranded along the National Highway following landslides in Nagaland.
Once the stranded trucks arrive, there would be no shortage of fertiliser in Manipur, Gopen assured.
The Fertiliser Officer further informed that the remaining load of urea lying in the factory would loaded onto the trucks from tomorrow.
Earlier during the rally the farmers raised slogans demanding adequate supply of fertilisers and fixing its price and carried placards inscribed with words like ‘Respect the farmers’, ‘Don’t bleed the blood of the farmers’, ‘Government should provide fertiliser at a cheaper rate’, ‘Agriculture Minister who cannot ensure adequate supply of fertiliser to the farmers should resign.’
After the rally, a joint meeting was held at the Sanglen of Ibudhou Korou-hanba at Moidangpok with president of Nongchup Imphal Loumee Shinmee Chaokhat Thourang Lup RS Khuraijam, social worker Joy Nongmaithem, NIMPAL president Th Rashileima, NIPCO secretary Sunil Karam, UPF secretary O Bikramjit and social worker S Tomba as presidium members.
After a serious deliberation on the issue, the meeting unanimously resolved that the Government should take up necessary measures at the earliest possible to ensure adequate supply of fertiliser along with fixing a reasonable rate in consideration of the difficulties being faced by the farmers.
In case the Government fails to act, the meeting decided that the farmers would launch intense agitation with the support of the people.
In order to solve the problem of non-availability of fertiliser being faced by the farmers every year, the meeting also mooted that a stock policy of the fertiliser should be maintained in the State.
Furthermore, the meeting resolved that the Government should ensure supply of PDS items to the people at the rate fixed by it as well as the full quantity.