Karnataka   

Raids in Davangere unearth 74 tonnes of fertilizers

DAVANGERE: In the wake of protests by farmers here against the severe shortage of fertilizers, the Davangere district administration conducted raids on several fertilizer dealer shops here on Tuesday. Over 74 tonnes of fertilizers stored illegally was seized and six fertilizer dealers were arrested under the Essential Commodities Act. Criminal cases were registered against them.

Deputy Commissioner M.B. Dyaberi, speaking to presspersons here on Tuesday, said that special teams comprising police officials, officers from the Agriculture Department and farmer leaders were formed on Tuesday to conduct the raids.

Mr. Dyaberi said the arrested dealers were Maharudrappa of Maruthi Agro Agenices, Lokikere; Revanasiddappa of Venkateshwara Agro Agencies, Lokikere; Thippanna of Raghavendra Agro Traders, Turchigatta; Muniyappa from Lakkamuthenahalli; Haleshappa of Veerabhadrashwara Traders in Nalluru; and Mruthyanjaya of Mruthyanjaya Fertilizers, Nalluru.

Mr. Dyaberi agreed that the stock of fertilizers seized was just the tip of the iceberg. He said the raids would continue till the demand for fertilizers receded. Licences of the arrested traders would be cancelled.

The seized fertilizers would be distributed to farmers, he said.

According to Mr. Dyaberi, 2,500 tonnes of fertilizers, which were expected to reach the district by Wednesday night, would also be distributed to farmers in dry areas, on priority and later to farmers in the irrigated belt.

Replying to a question, Joint Director of Agriculture Shivamurthappa said that the 9,000 tonnes of fertilizers supplied to the district a few days ago had been distributed to the dealers, and many rich farmers had bought and stored the fertilizers in advance.

Mr. Dyaberi said the stock of fertilizers would improve in another three to four days and noted that fertilizer would be distributed to farmers through Vyavasaya Seva Sanghas in villages.

“Had the fertilizer dealers distributed the fertilizers sincerely to farmers, this situation would not have arisen,” he said. The administration has also decided to ration fertilizers. Farmers will receive one quintal for an acre.

Mr. Shivamurthappa said that 42,000 quintals of seeds were required for this season.

Seeds of jowar, ragi, toor, hybrid maize, lentils, green gram and groundnut are required for Davangere as many farmers cultivate these crops in the district, he said.

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