Agartala, September 11 (TIWN): Activity of agriculture department created wide scope for black marketing of Urea Fertilizer in state. A few business tycoons regularizing the government supply of Government agency too by creating artificial crisis of Urea. Price of Urea in open market is extremely high and out of reach of poor farmers of the state.

Without any authorization from Agriculture Department some retail merchants are importing poor quality of urea from Assam and selling the same thing in high rate. It is reported that some staffs of Churaibari Check post are engaged in illegal importing of Urea. Urea stored in the godown of Agriculture dept. has been decreasing since last few months.

Work of construction of Mega Block is going to be started soon and transportation through rail from Agartala-Lumding will be stopped from 1st Oct 2014.In this situation it need to create huge stock of Urea fertilizer in state.

Agriculture Department is not encouraging the importing of Urea in the state and retail merchants are in full swing to black market. No raid is being done till now in godown to restrict the illegal store of Urea.
Government officials said there is no shortage of SSP in public stores. Initiative has taken to import Urea in within 30th Sept 2014. Fertilizers will be imported after September by road ways. The state Government warned the retail merchants involved in selling urea with high price and farmers’ are also been requested not to purchase fertilizers from Black markets. A huge stock of fertilizers is available in the state government’s godowns which is sufficient till next year.
Agricultural production specially rice will be badly suffer and it may cause shortage of foodgrains in future .Retail merchants for making extra profit created abnormal crisis of fertilizers in the state which is matter of concern and need to be taken under stern control by State Government .

Central Government is providing 90% rebate on importing fertilizers where as expenditure of Rs.10/15 per Kg will be charges on fertilizes coming from roadways.
As per report fertilizer stored in agriculture godown is only for various beneficiary scheme. Only 10% beneficiaries are covered under govt rebate.