Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

Companies creating artificial scarcity of fertilizers: MP

Staff Correspondent

Pralhad Joshi says farmers being charged Rs. 50 more on every bag of urea

HUBLI: Pralhad Joshi, MP on Wednesday alleged that fertilizer companies and their agents are creating an artificial scarcity of urea, DAP and other complex fertilizers in some districts, including Dharwad, Belgaum, Bellary and Gadag.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Joshi accused the Department of Agriculture of sitting on the issue. He said that there has been a slight increase in the cultivated area this monsoon. In Dharwad district, so far 2.03 lakh hectares has been cultivated against the target of 1.75 lakh hectares. This increase of 30,000 hectares is being used to exploit the gullible farmers, Mr. Joshi said.

He accused officials of the Agriculture Department of being negligent towards the plight of farmers and not initiating action to help the farming community. "Under the Essential Commodities Act, cases could have been booked by the Revenue and Police Department, which has not been done so far," he said.

He alleged that farmers are being charged Rs. 40 to Rs. 50 more for each bag of urea and same is the case with complex fertilizers.

Mr. Joshi urged the Deputy Commissioner to convene an emergency meeting and take steps to check the exploitation of farmers. "If no action is taken within three days, then our party would be left with no other option than launching an agitation," he said.

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