Publish Date: | Mon, 21 Feb 2022 08:05 AM (IST)
Raipur. The central and state governments have become face-to-face over the supply of chemical fertilizers. Both are denying each other’s claims. State Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey is saying that till now only 52 percent of the fertilizers demanded from the Center have been supplied, while the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers is showing the figures that it has given Chhattisgarh its demand. So far 120 percent fertilizers have been supplied against the demand.
Certainly this situation of confrontation is not in the interest of the farmers. It doesn’t matter who is right and who is wrong. What matters is that farmers get fertilizers on time and according to demand, so that their agriculture does not deteriorate, their hard work is not wasted, they do not have to suffer financial loss.
Agriculture Minister Choubey says that the state needs seven lakh 50 thousand tonnes of manure.
In comparison, the Center has given approval to give only four lakh 11 thousand tonnes of fertilizers, that is, the demand has been cut by about 45 percent. For this reason, there is a shortage of chemical fertilizers in the state, while the Union Ministry has given in writing rejecting the claims of the state that 4.11 lakh tonnes of chemical fertilizers were demanded by the state for the Rabi season. As on February 17, 4.36 lakh tonnes of fertilizers have been made available to the state.
Fertilizer crisis is increasing in the state. Black marketing traders are taking advantage of this. They are selling fertilizers to the farmers at a higher price than the societies and due to no option, the farmers are forced to buy expensive fertilizers. To curb this, the state government had conducted raids in the past. Many people have been caught doing black marketing, but the question arises that is there really a crisis of fertilizers in the state? Who is speaking right, Center or State?
Well, one thing both the governments should understand that farmers’ interest is paramount. There should be no politics in this. It is better that the Center and the states should review once again about the supply of fertilizers. It is their responsibility to provide adequate quantity of fertilizers to the farmers on time. It cannot be compromised in any way. Ultimately, the progress of the society, the state and the country is only due to the progress of the farmers. Politics should be kept away from the happiness of farmers. Hopefully this controversy will end soon.
Posted By: Abhishek Rai