No fertilizer shortage in Kharif season, says govt
Sources said rumours are doing rounds in the countryside of the state that there could be shortage of fertilizers due to geopolitical instability.
The department maintained the Centre has ensured timely supply of fertilizer to the state.
"The Centre is making efforts to make available agriculture inputs to the farmers of the state in time," state agriculture director, Nitin Kumar Singh, said in a communique, adding: "Rakes of fertilizers are being sent to all the districts on a regular basis to ensure their steady supply to the farmers."
A farmer, Kumod Kumar, from Falka block in Katihar district said: "Yes, there is a rumour regarding short supply of fertilizer due to the global tension, especially the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war and the recent Israel-Iran war.
The fear is also that the prices of fertilizers would shoot up."
He said the Potash variety of fertilizer sold for Rs 2,000 per 50 kg packet in Oct-Nov last year in the black market against the price of Rs 800 per packet.
Apprehending the situation, the agriculture department has directed the district officials to "prevent the sale of fertilizers at illegal higher prices. Conduct regular raids against those indulging in black marketing and hoarding of fertilizers."
During this year's Kharif season, FIRs have been lodged against nine retailers of fertilizers and licences of 93 establishments have also been cancelled, the communique said. Instructions have also been issued to the department's district officials to constantly hold meeting to monitor the supply and sale side of the fertilizers.
The Centre has already fixed the quota for supply of various types of fertilizers to the state: 10.32 lakh metric tonne (MT) of urea, 2.20 lakh MT of DAP, 2.50 lakh MT of NKP, 50,000 MT of MOP and 75,000 MT of SSP.
"There is no shortage of any variety of fertilizer in the state," agriculture director said, adding that against the state's quota fixed by the Centre, the fertilizer supply till Friday was 3.92 lakh MT of urea, 1.08 lakh MT of DAP, 2.32 lakh MT of NPK, 66,000 MT of MOP, and 1 lakh MT of SSP. "The rakes of fertilizers have also reached Bhabhua Road and Nawada district," he added.
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