IMPHAL, August 18: The International Peace and Social Advancement, IPSA has claimed that it has knowledge of certain fertilizer agents who illegally store fertilizers in a bid to control the price of fertilizers. This was said by spokesperson of the organization, Kh Athouba during a press conference at the the IPSA office at Keishampat this evening.
He further demanded that unless the said agents release the stored fertilizers in the interest of the farmers within a period of 10 days, IPSA will launch several forms of agitation against them.
Athouba further expressed discontentment and displeasure over the stoic silence maintained by the concern Agriculture Minister even as the farmers are facing a steep price hike of fertilizers in the state.
Even as the government had announced the price of fertilizers at Rs 286.60 per bag, fertilizer is actually available at the price of Rs 800 to Rs1000 per bag, which has caused immense difficulty for the farmers, he charged.
He further continued that dealers and agents who are close to the MLAs and Minister and have political influence are selling fertilizers at the said price range much higher than the Rs 286.60/bag announced earlier by Agriculture Minister Abdul Nasir.
Owing to the price hike in fertilizers, the farmers are unable to avail the fertilizers and could lead to an artificial famine in the state next year.
Agents who have the political clout have imposed a monopoly on the fertilizer market, he further alleged.