Farmers in the state are not getting urea; if they are, it is at almost double the price
Photo: Agnimirh Basu / CSE Urea prices are skyrocketing in Chhattisgarh due to the government’s decisions these days. So bad is the situation that farmers are being forced to buy urea on the black market and then cultivate paddy at a higher cost and bear the losses. Due to this, farmers from Raipur, Mahasamund, Bilaspur and Gariaband districts have been rendered helpless.
Sushil Bhoi, a farmer from the Bagh Bahra area of Mahasamund district, said: “I went to Saraipali, thinking that a truck was going to bring urea and that I would get at least five to seven sacks. But I was in for disappointment when I reached the spot,” he told this reporter.
Bhoi said he and others complained to government agencies that farmers were having to purchase bags of urea in black at a price of more than Rs 600.
The administration also conducted raids, but nobody was caught due to the nexus between the authorities and others. “It is so bad now that no urea is available even on the black market,” Bhoi said.
Farmer leader Jugnoo Chandrakar said: “When we threatened to disrupt traffic, the Mahasamund collector sought a week’s time and assured that the situation will be back to normal soon.We have also tried to meet the chief minister in this regard. The agriculture minister has also given assurances to us. But there is still no change in the situation.”
Chandrakar said the condition of farmers not registered with cooperative societies was even worse. “In cooperative societies, farmers who are registered, can get a sack of urea for Rs 280-350. The rest have to buy urea from shops, where a sack can cost more than Rs 600,” he said.
Sohan Patel, a farmer from Basna, pointed out that farmers were willing to buy urea at a price slightly higher than rates fixed by cooperative societies, but were not getting urea at all.
Sudesh Tikam, a tribal farmer leader from Rajnandgaon, said the government’s policies and decisions were responsible for the plight of farmers.
“The government had ample opportunities to ensure that the first supply of chemical fertiliser could be made through cooperative societies. But 60 per cent of the urea was distributed to traders and now, traders are doing its black marketing. Who should be held responsible?” he said.
Tikam said the government wants to promote organic farming, but quality vermi-compost is not available in adequate quantity. At present, at least one trolley of vermi-compost will be required for an acre in comparison to two sacks of urea for the same.
More importantly, there is no market for organic farming products in Chhattisgarh, where farmers can get the right price for their produce.
Another important reason behind the black marketing of urea was its linking with Aadhaar cards, Chandrakar said. The linking of Aadhaar cards for availing urea and Diammonium Phosphate has been made mandatory across the country by the Narendra Modi government as the matter is related to subsidy.
But a drawback is that a person can buy as much urea as he wants on an Aadhaar card and the stock of urea is limited. This increases chances of black marketing.
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