Farmers protest in front of the Agriculture department in Imphal on August 25.
Newmai News Network
Imphal | August 25
Shortage of fertilizers in Manipur has prompted infuriated farmers to protest in front of the Agriculture department located at Sanjenthong in Imphal demanding immediate supply of fertilizers to farmers. Since late this morning the farmers numbering in hundreds gathered at the gate of the Agriculture department and demanded the department to make available fertilizers.
Speaking to media persons at the site of protest, Kh Ranjit Singh, a local farmer said that the farmers are protesting since this morning demanding from the government that the supply of the required quantity of fertilizers is given to the farmers.
“We came to learn that about 14 to 15 fertilizer carrying trucks have reached Imphal yesterday, and with great hoping to get the fertilizers we came to the department just to be told there is no fertilizer in the go down of the department,” the farmer narrated.
On being enquired about the non availability of fertilizers, the officials of the department asked us to meet the concerned minister, the farmer added.
Later, some representatives of the protesting farmers along with some officials went to the concerned minister to enquire about the matter, but the minister was not present in his residence, the farmers rued.
Some farmers said that the fertilizers are easily available in the ‘black market’ for Rs 700 to Rs 1000 per bag. The agitating farmers wondered where these fertilizers in the ‘black market’ come from.
