NH-39 landslide causes hardship for Manipur farmers

Imphal | September 3 : “Cultivators in Manipur are likely to face severe hardships as there is acute shortage of urea due to various reasons including landslide near Kohima in Nagaland…” reported one of the local papers in the state on August 15. It also added the “…limited provision of the important item at an Assam factory that used to be the chief provider.” However, with fertilizers loaded trucks stuck up at near Kohima in Nagaland due to landslide and the limited supply by the Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation situated in Namrup, Assam one could perhaps foresee the situation ahead. Conveying this to the reporters on August 14 during a press meet at Sanjenthong Complex of Agriculture Department in Imphal, the dealers complaint that lifting the state’s share of urea from the said factory in Assam had come down drastically as the factory is currently not operating at its maximum capacity. They also revealed that contrary to lifting 15 truck loads of urea on a daily basis, the number has now gone down to 5 adding that the consignments were secured only after waiting for days.
According to an official source, the government of Manipur had proposed a provision of 3500 metric tonnes of urea for the month of April of which the Central government approved 1754 metric tonnes. However, the state dealers were able to bring in 972 metric tonnes only during the specified period. Similarly, 1494 metric tonnes were approved of the 5400 metric tonnes for the month of May of which the dealers managed to transport in 3510 metric tonnes. For the month of June it was 5148 MT out of 7200 MT and for July, it was 4598 MT out of 8050 MT. However, according to official reports the state dealers managed to ferry in excess, i.e. 4860 MT. And for the month of August, it is reported that 3996 MT has been allotted by the Centre out of 6500 MT proposed by the state.
Amidst this lack of fertilizer supplies and the hard time that the dealers find in transporting them into the state, the dealers on August 16 threatened to stop their supply of fertilizers over monetary demand made by an underground outfit. Stating their difficulties in lifting the respective quantity fixed to them by the state government, the dealers pointed out that apart from monetary demands the various taxes, both legal and illegal, along the national highways were making it harder for them to ferry in the fertilizers. “This is adding to the rise in price of the fertilizers,” added the dealers.
All these eventually hitting on the farmers, a large number of farmers from Patsoi Constituent Assembly on August 21 took out a protest from Patsoi bazaar to Moidang protesting the non-availability of fertilizers and their high inflated prices if at all available. The farmers at the rally demanded the adequate supply of fertilizers and fixing the right price. They also resolved that the state government take up the problem and that necessary action be taken as early as possible threatening agitations of various forms should the government failed.
And in what could be considered a much needed relief for the farmers, it was reported that 22 fertilizer laden trucks had crossed the sunken portion of Nagaland on the night of August 27 and were headed for the state followed by another 30 on the afternoon of August 28. Of these, 24 were reported to have arrived in Imphal on August 29 causing much relief to the farmers of the state.
However, with reports that ministers and MLAs making a beeline for the fertilizers instead of the dealers, it appeared that things would may not improve. Though, this was clarified by a source that this act of the ministers and the MLAs was with due agreement with the dealers and the matter informed to the state Agriculture minister, the Nonchup Imphal Loumee Shinmee Chaokhat Thourang Lup, a farmers’ organisation on August 30 accused the ministers and MLAs of taking their VIPs’ shares of fertilizers at Sekmai before the goods reach Imphal.
Addressing a press meet with regards at the Manipur Press Club on Saturday, Ram Singh, President of the farmers body revealed that the fertilizers after being stopped at Sekmai bazaar, 20 kms north of Imphal, were taken off by the ministers and MLAs claiming their VIPs’ shares. He also revealed that fertilizers were sold at Rs. 650/ per ‘bag’ making it harder for the farmers. The president of the famers’ body further revealed that of the 61 dealers permitted by the government only 40 were functional while 21 of them have stopped transporting fertilizers. He then alleged that the Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation had written to the state government informing about 12 dealers selling off fertilizers in black markets from this year’s total quota allotted to the state and accused the agriculture department of condoning these dealers even as they deserved to be blacklisted.
With farmers most affected by the scarcity of fertilizers in Manipur, the reports of construction of diversion road at the landslide area in Nagaland could bring some smile on the farmers. However, with further reports of late evening on August 31 that no heavy and full loaded vehicles can pass through the diversion road, it is only time as affords are being made to bring in the fertilizer laden trucks.