Bihar govt to provide fertiliser to farmers

In the wake of protests and agitation by farmers following non-availability of fertiliser in kharif season, the Centre has assured the Bihar government of making available adequate quantity of fertiliser to meet the demands during Rabi season.

State Agriculture Production Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sinha said the state would make available adequate quantity of fertiliser to farmers during Rabi season during 2011-12.

"An assurance to this effect has been given by the Centre... it has assured us of making available 11.5 lakh metric tonne fertiliser in keeping with the demands of farmers in Bihar during Rabi season," Sinha said.

He alleged that the situation the state witnessed in form of protests and opposition by farmers because of lack of fertiliser was due to poor allocation of fertiliser by the Centre during the Kharif season.

"But we once against took up with the Centre the issue of providing adequate quantity of fertiliser for farmers in Bihar during Rabi season and the Centre has accepted it," he said.

Sinha said Union Cabinet Secretary A K Seth had a meeting with Bihar chief secretary Navin Kumar through video-conferencing during which the Centre decided to make available 11.50 lakh metric tonne urea, 2.75 lakh metric tonne DAP, two lakh metric tonne NPK and 1.65 lakh tonne MOP to farmers in Bihar for Rabi crops.