Punjab moves resolution over hike in fertilizers prices

Showing its displeasure over the unreasonable hike in the fertilizers prices, the Punjab Assembly on Saturday unanimously passed the resolution moved by Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, demanding that Centre should immediately roll back the unreasonable hike in the prices of fertilizers.

Describing the decision of Centre as ‘anti-farmer’ and a step to vanish the agriculture sector, the resolution reads as, “This house expresses its deep concern and anguish over the recent hike in the prices of fertilizers, nearly doubled by the government of India. The Centre had been increasing the prices of agriculture inputs and virtually broken the back of the beleaguered farming community.”

It may be mentioned that during the last one year the prices of DAP had been increased from Rupees 537 per bag to Rupees 910 per bag and Potash had been hike from Rupees 252.75 to Rupees 565 per bag. The prices of Urea being a controlled fertilizer had touched Rupees 268 per bag.

The resolution further mentioned that approximately 25 lakh tones of Urea, 8.50 lakh tones of DAP and 1 lakh tones of potash is consumed in the state every year. The recent hike in the prices of fertilizers has put an additional burden of Rupees 800 crore on the farmers of the state.

A farmer on an average, who spent nearly Rupees 1500 per acre for the production of wheat-paddy earlier, would have to now spend approximately Rupees 2800 per acre.