Rollback increased fertilizer prices: BJP Kisan Morcha

-- Morcha to hold nation-wide stir protesting Govt’s anti-farmer policy

BHUBANESWAR: “The farmers of the country are worst affected than other professionals and workers. The Central Government failed to address the farmer issues like granting of adequate relief for drought-hit farmers and failing to control increasing prices of fertilizers, for which our Morcha would hold a nation-wide stir protesting the Government’s anti-farmer policy,” said BJP Kishan Morcha national president Om Prakash Dhankar to the mediapersons here on Sunday.

     

Dhankar said changed fertilizer policy has taken away commodity far from the hands of a farmer as fertilizer is the main input for farmers after water and seeds. Spiraling prices of chemical fertilizers have proved taxing for the farmers. The prices of DAP (Di-ammonium Phosphate) have increased by 2.5 times since 2010, prices of MOP (Muriate of Potash) have increased by 3.75 times and prices of SSP (Single Super Phosphate) doubled. De-control over prices of fertilizer and new nutrition based subsidy too has led to difficult availability of these fertilizers, he added.

“Since 2010, the nutrition based subsidy has been imposed on mixed fertilizers and the right to fix its prices lies in the hands of fertilizer manufacturers and exporters. Government has succeeded in decreasing its subsidy from Rs 1 lakh crore in 2008-09 to Rs 63000 crore, but the condition of farmers is pathetic.” Dhankar said.

He stated that 93 kinds of fertilizers are available in market and subsidy is available only on 23 kinds of fertilizers. Only urea is under old control policy, while other 22 kind of fertilizers available are fertilizers mixed with urea under de-control nutrition bases subsidy, he added.

He also demanded present nutrition based subsidy policy should be suspended and the increased prices be rolled back, continuation of control policy on urea and all State be provided fertilizers as per their demands so that farmers do not face any shortage.

Dhankar said the Central Government should immediately release interim installment of relief to all the States without any prejudice. He said that in drought hit areas, interest on agriculture loan should be abolished and loan repayment be stopped till the next crop.

It may be noted that on August 20, farmers from all over the country would get together at Jantar-Mantar in Delhi. Supporting the farmers BJP’s national president Nitin Gadkari and former Union Minister Rajnath Singh would sit in dharna, while farmers would take to street, BJP Parliamentarians would fight the battle in the Parliament, informed Dhankar.