Fertiliser Shortage: Farmers allege fertiliser shortage impacting kharif season in Kendrapada district | Bhubaneswar News
Kendrapada: Farmers in Kendrapada district said they are facing a fertiliser shortage which is affecting timely sowing of paddy and other kharif crops.
Ramesh Chandra Prusti, a farmer of Gatanai village under Tikapanga gram panchayat, said that unless fertiliser stocks are released immediately, paddy saplings will wither away and it will lead to huge losses.
Umesh Chandra Singh, a farmer leader and president of the district unit of Krushak Sabha, said that due the shortage, many farmers are being forced to buy fertilisers at exorbitant rates from black-marketeers and hoarders. Kailash Mishra, another farmer of Gatanai, claimed that the authorities failed to supply fertilisers despite repeated pleas.
When contacted, chief district agriculture officer, Kalyan Ray, said, “Around 3.60 lakh farmers of Kendrapada district cultivate paddy crops over 1,24,000 hectares of agricultural land. They need around 14,400 metric tonnes of fertilisers. We have already received 6,913 MT from the govt. We will get more soon.”
“We have entrusted 121 primary agricultural cooperative societies to sell fertilisers to the farmers. Stringent action will be taken against those involved in selling spurious fertilisers,” he added.
Bhaskar Jena, another farmer leader, pointed out that regular use of chemical fertilisers leads to more requirement every year, and increasing its demand.
“The agriculture department should encourage farmers to use organic and vermin compost to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers,” he added.
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