SHILLONG, AUG 27: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday said Meghalaya is moving towards becoming the largest organic coverage state in the country and the government’s endeavour is to cut and eventually phase out chemical fertilizers.
“We have to remember the larger message is that Meghalaya and the whole world is trying to move towards organic. We are not here to encourage but to discourage use of fertilizers. Bio-fertilizers have been introduced. We are in a transition mode and we hope one day we will not have any chemical fertilizers,” Sangma said in the Assembly.
“The correct mechanism followed by the rest of the world is testing the soil. We are now moving towards having more and more certification towards organic and Meghalaya is very well poised today,” he added.
The chief minister was supplementing the reply of Agriculture Minister Timothy D Shira to a query raised by VPP president and Nongkrem MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on farmers being forced to buy SSP at Rs 900 per bag.
Clarifying the rates, Sangma said, “Rs 266 is for urea and the member asked for SSP. Urea is Rs 266 and SSP rate is Rs 800 per bag at subsidized rate. Subsidy is 25 percent and market price will be Rs 1,200. Since it is a controlled quantity, there are situations where individuals may try to take advantage, but continuous monitoring is done and whenever black marketing is detected, action is taken.”
On enforcement, Agriculture Minister Timothy D Shira said there is no scope for black marketing due to strict monitoring.
“129 inspectors are there and they are very regular in checking. All retailers have to mandatorily display the rate and sell at the rate fixed by the government. It is mandatory to upload every sale in the Integrated Fertilizer Management System (iFMS). If one kg is sold in black, that can be traced,” Shira said.
He said directors of Agriculture and Horticulture are also empowered to conduct random checks.
Chief Minister Sangma added that 1,432 surprise checks have been conducted so far.
“Yes, surprise checks are done and 1,432 such surprise checks have been done. If anybody is found to be doing anything, their license is bound to be cancelled. Action will be taken according to law,” he said.
Shira said farmers can lodge complaints through CM Connect if retailers charge beyond the notified price and urged farmers to use the grievance redressal mechanism.
On diversion of fertilizers to other states and Bangladesh, the minister said consumption in Garo Hills is very low and confined to plain areas as most farmers practice natural farming inherited from forefathers, and movement is tracked through portals and permits issued by the Directorate.
“We have notified certain areas where fertilizers can be used or are being used and beyond that we are not allowing as we want to discourage use of fertilizer,” Sangma added.
