IMPHAL, May 25: Y. Iboyaima, president of the All Manipur Fertiliser Dealers Welfare Association, HO, Chingmeirong said that the Director, Agriculture has painted authorised dealers to the farmers in a bad light.
He continued that only 60,000 bags of fertilizer were brought in due to the Director’s failure while 1,08, 000 bags for the month of May may not be available. He further continued that an RTI (RR No. 638) was filed on April 22, 2013 to make it known whether the Director, Agriculture is a dealer of BVFC Ltd, supplier or Manufacturer but the reply has not come yet and what asked what actions the Department had taken up against Bhama of Khongjom and Sanjit of Yairipok who had recently been caught red handed while trying to pass off spurious fertilizers.
Y. Iboyaima, President of the Association further said the association began to conduct a drive to see whether the agents in the are providing fertilizers at the same rate of Rs 270 per bag, the amount at which Agriculture Director is providing.
He also appealed to inform if someone is found selling fertilizer at the rate which is more than the normal rate.
He further said the Director has falsely claimed that some dealers tried to sell a bag of fertilizer at Rs 350/ 400. Mentioning that the government gives an opportunity to the Director, Agriculture for a bag of urea to be made available to the farmers at Rs. 270, he said that if the government gives the same opportunity to the authorized dealers, they will be able to sell the same bag at Rs. 260. But as the dealers do not get the opportunity, they have unwillingly been compelled not to transport fertilizers.