JEYPORE: While rains in the last 15 days have revived hopes of the farmers, shortage of fertilisers has hit them below the belt. While farmers have completed transplantation in around 50,000 hectares, most outlets in the district have exhausted their stock. Potash is required during the transplantation process but the shortage is affecting plant growth with fear of blight disease looming large. While affluent farmers could afford DAP fertiliser being sold at a premium, the poor ones are left in the lurch. The district reportedly has not received its quota of potash for the last three months, leading to the crisis. Taking advantage of the situation, traders are importing potash from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and selling it at double the market price for ` 600 a bag. Farmers fear 60 per cent production loss due to non-availability of potash.According to district agriculture officials, against the requirement of 12,500 MT potash, the region received 2,500 MT in May. The district has not received even a single bag of fertiliser in the last three months. Admitting acute shortage of fertilisers, District Joint Quality Control Inspector of Fertiliser BP Patnaik said the district would receive its quota only after the MoP cargo reaches the country. Meanwhile, pani panchayats of Koraput region have urged the State Government to make MoP available in the district to save the crop.
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