Fertilizers | The Congress government led by the farmers in the state has struck another thunderbolt. It will put a price burden on the suppliers who are already struggling for urea. The government has canceled free transport of other fertilizers including urea to Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS).
Fertilizers | Hyderabad, July 13 (Namaste Telangana): The Congress government led by farmers in the state has struck another thunderbolt. It will put a price burden on the suppliers who are already struggling for urea. The government has canceled free transport of other fertilizers including urea to Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS). To this extent, the Secretary of the Agriculture Department, Surendra Mohan, issued an order on the 8th of this month. These have recently come to light. Farmers are of the opinion that with this additional burden, getting urea will become more difficult. It is warned that even the co-operatives who have to sell at a fixed price will compete with private dealers and sell at a higher price.
150 crore burden on farmers
Markfed is the nodal agency for distribution of urea and other fertilizers in the state. Markfed used to supply free fertilizers to PACS, DCMS and ARSKs to ensure timely supply of urea to the farmers at a fixed price. But after coming to power the Congress government canceled the free transport facility for DCMS and ARSKs. Continued only for PACS. Now that facility has also been canceled. Markfed specially appoints an agency for free transportation of fertilizers and supplies urea to the areas where it is required. So that the farmers could get fertilizers through cooperative societies without any difficulties. Officials say that the government is spending up to Rs.150 crores annually for free transport of fertilisers. It is said that free transportation was lifted because they could not bear this burden. With this, there is a possibility that the PACS centers will collect the fertilizer transport charges from the farmers. This means that the burden of Rs.150 crores avoided by the government will now fall on the farmers.
Price rise.. Cut in sales
A bag of urea usually costs Rs. 266 to sell. Private traders Rs. 300 to Rs. 350 are being sold. Dealers say that the reason is high transport charges and other expenses. Rs. They are saying that if they sell at 266 only losses will remain. Now the farmers are worried that the government’s decision will increase the prices. On the other hand, there is a risk that PACS will withdraw from the sale of fertilizers with the cancellation of free transport. They are of the opinion that there is a possibility to stop indenting urea to avoid losses. So far fertilizers used to come to PACS regardless of lorry talk and hire. But henceforth the management of the centers will have to hire the lorries. Currently Markfed has 22 rake points. Fertilizers brought by trains are moved from rake points to warehouses. From there PACS managers have to negotiate and take the lorries. So managers are analyzing that there is a possibility to stop booking lorries and indenting urea. It is said that if there is a shortage of lorries, the owners will increase the rent. It is clear that PACS administrators will not make indents in the event of increase in rent and non-availability of lorries, as a result of which the availability of fertilizers in the respective centers will decrease and the farmers will face difficulties. If the losses are too high, there is a risk of stopping the sale of fertilizers. If this is the case farmers must turn to private dealers. So the government is demanding to withdraw the decision immediately.
