The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Take steps to meet fertilizer needs: PMK

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Thursday, Jun 26, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Take steps to meet fertilizer needs: PMK

Staff Reporter

High prices show there is scarcity, says G.K. Mani

As against Rs.500 for a bag of DAP, farmers are being forced to pay Rs.750
Farmers complaining of “lacklustre” attitude of officials, he says

RAMANATHAPURAM: The Pattali Makkal Katchi on Wednesday urged the government to take immediate steps to meet the requirement of fertilizers, particularly DAP, in delta districts. PMK president G.K. Mani told reporters here that though the government claimed it had taken steps to solve the problem, ground realities showed that farmers of Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur districts were struggling to get fertilizers.

As against Rs.500 for a bag of DAP, farmers were being forced to pay Rs.750. The high price itself showed there was scarcity.

Complaints

He said farmers had also complained about “lacklustre” attitude of officials to those approaching primary agricultural cooperative societies and other banks for crop loan. Besides allocating enough funds for crop loan, the government should also look into complaints about paddy seeds. Mr. Mani said there were widespread complaints from places where the Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Water Bodies Restoration and Management Project had been undertaken.

Farmers’ committees

Several works had been started when flow in rivers was about to begin. It would not be possible to complete the desilting work before the onset of monsoon.

Committees of farmers should be formed at each and every work site to monitor the works.

Navy blamed

Blaming Sri Lankan navy for killing more than 200 fishermen of Ramanathapuram, Tuticorin, Pudukottai and Nagapattinam districts since 1983, he said retrieving Kachatheevu was a solution to the problem.

Though the fishermen had every right to visit the island, the Sri Lankan navy was not only denying permission but also harassing them.

The State and Central governments should immediately take steps to solve the issue.

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