BALASORE: Indian farmers are forced to pay 25 percent more for smuggled fertilizer as administration has turned a blind eye to illegal activities.
Subsidized fertilizer and pesticides from Baliapal, Basta, Jaleswar, Bhogarai, Remuna, Nilagiri and Sadar blocks of the district are being smuggled to West Bengal in trucks, tractors and pick-up vans through NH-60 and Basta-Kamarda route via Baliapal.
While the farmers in the region are struggling to grow their crops in the rabi season, their counterparts in the neighbouring State are in a comfortable situation.
The Bengal farmers get the smuggled items at cheaper than market price but the Odia ryots have to procure it from the black market at higher rates.
The farmers on this side of the border alleged that despite their repeated demands to check the illegal practice, the agriculture officials do not pay any attention and the silence of the administration is helping the black marketers in running their business smoothly.
“Even as we have been raising hue and cry over the black marketing and non-availability of fertiliser due to smuggling to West Bengal, no step has been taken so far,” said Dhananjay Patra, a farmer.
Another farmer Santanu Bhadra of Baliapal said though a group of villagers caught hold of two pick-up vans loaded with fertiliser and informed local police and agriculture officials, the police released the vehicles for the reasons best known to them.
“On being informed, agriculture officials reached the spot and took the vehicles to the police station on Thursday. Later, they released the vehicles along with the fertiliser. We were told that the fertiliser was meant for the farmers of Jaleswar. In that case, why it was transported from Baliapal?” he asked raising doubts over police action.
While urea is presently sold at more than `550 per 50 kg bag in the black market against the Government price of `284, DAP is priced at `1,850 against the subsidised rate of `1,218. Similarly, potash which is priced at `840 is being sold at `100 more per bag.
Meanwhile, the farmers have demanded raids on check gates at Laxmannath, Ambiliatha and Debhoga through which the fertiliser laden vehicles are smuggled.
