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Even as the Union Government has supplied more than demanded quantum of fertilizer to Odisha, famers are not getting adequate firtilizer at subsidized prices from the Government.

Bhubaneswar, Sep 10: Even as the Union Government has supplied more than demanded quantum of fertilizer to Odisha, famers are not getting adequate firtilizer at subsidized prices from the Government.

Farmers across the State have expressed anguish over dearth of urea and other firtilizers like DAP, MOP and NPK. Many of them have alleged that black marketing of fertilizers going rampant in the State.

Actual cost of a bag of urea is Rs 266 but it is being sold at prices between Rs 550 and Rs 600 across the State. Fertilizer supplied by the Centre is being black-marketed with support of unscrupulous PACS officials, alleged farmers.

“We are forced to buy urea and other fertilizers from the open market at high prices,” said a farmer in Balangir.

According to data provided by Union Minister of State for Fertilizer Bhagawant Khuba on August 25, the Union Government had provided 2.04 lakh metric tonne urea against 80,000 MT demanded by Odisha Government. Similarly, the Centre supplied 30,000 MT DAP against demand of 30,000MT, 45, 000MT MOP against demand of 25,000 MT and 1.37 lakh NPK against 40,000 MT demanded by the State Government.

Based on the data, the Argus News made special report on the availability of fertilizer. Farmers in Kendrapara, Nayagar, Nabarangpur, Balangir, Bargarh and other places were interviewed. Almost all of them expressed anguish saying that they have not got fertilizer at subsidised rates from the Government. They have been forced to buy fertilizer from the open market at higher prices.