UP cooperative dept officials say, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had earlier sent a letter to the center but to no avail. Meanwhile, harried by the lingering lack of supply Uttar Pradesh Pradeshik Cooperative Federation (UPPCF)- a cooperative body working under the govt. dept of cooperation has decided to buy phosphate fertilisers worth Rs 200 crore from abroad.
This is the first time a cooperative will buy fertilisers directly from foreign countries, said the state cooperation minister Shivpal Yadav. The latter’s son Aditya Yadav heads the federation and is on Board of IFFCO.
According to the minister, import was the only option available as the center had not met the state’s demand and the IFFCO’s fertiliser unit in Allahabad had been closed. Sources say the center has agreed to the import. The state immediately requires 50 lakh MT of phosphatic fertilisers.