Biscomaun Chairman Sunil Singh announced a major rate cut in the prices of fertilizers for the benefits of farmers of Bihar in the presence of state cooperation minister Rana Randhir Singh.
The occasion was the inauguration of cooperative stall at Sonepur mela-an annual cattle fair that is said to be the biggest in Asia. Held as the pride of northern Bihar, the mela is sited on the banks of the Ganga on the auspicious dates of Kartik Poornima in the month of November every year.
Speaking on the occasion Sunil Singh said all the 105 outlets of cooperative marketing federation would sell fertilizers at the new rates from today and from now.
In the revised rates, advt for which was placed in leading newspapers of the state, neem coated urea would be sold at Rs 295 per bag (50kg) and DAP at Rs 1060 per bag. The rates of NPK and APS have been fixed at Rs 1045 and Rs 840 per bag respectively.
Sunil also exhorted the farmers to lodge a complaint should anyone demand more than the advertized rates at the outlets. He also informed the farmers that buying IFFCO’s urea would make them eligible for insurance automatically.
Sunil supporters including Mahesh Rai, Chairman of DCCB called the lowering of rates “historic”. Others congratulated him for caring for farmers. Readers would note that IFFCO’s urea is being routed through Biscomaun after a 30 year gap.
Experts, however, say that ever since the urea has been coated with neem, its diversion to industries has stopped, leading to a glut in the market. Companies and cooperatives are forced to lower the rates. They call IFFCO’s recent decision not to make any investment in chemical fertilizer wise and futuristic.
