Hike in fertiliser prices puts farmers in a spot
The Hindu
Lack of govt. subsidy schemes add to their woes
Farmers across the State who are grappling with the dwindling crop yield and price fall of agriculture produce have called upon Union and State governments to do something immediately to arrest the increasing market prices of fertilisers and chemicals. Leaders of major farmers’ organisations say the increasing farm input cost subsequent to the fertiliser price hike will take the ailing agriculture sector to a serious crisis. “NPK, one of the essential nutrient mixes and the most sought-after fertiliser product comprising nitrogen phosphorus and potassium, costs ₹35,500 a tonne. It was just ₹24,000 till very recently,” says Johnson Kulathingal, general secretary of Kerala Karshaka Union in the State. He points out that the prices of di-ammonium phosphate and other phosphorus-based fertilisers have also gone up in a similar way. The biggest crisis faced by small and medium farmers is the absence of beneficial subsidy schemes for them to beat the price fluctuations. Only a small section of farmers who are part of special agriculture schemes in select panchayats are now getting government support to buy fertilisers at subsidised rate. In effect, the hike in market price will affect the majority of ordinary farmers who are out of such special schemes.The Opposition Congress demanded that the government open the Gandhi Vatika Museum, depicting Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and freedom struggle, built at a cost of ₹85 crore in Jaipur’s Central Park last year, during the Congress-led regime in Rajasthan. The museum has not been opened to the public, reportedly because of the administration’s engagements with the State Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Almaya Munnettam (Lay People to the Fore), group in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church opposed to the synod-recommended Mass, rejected a circular issued by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur on June 9 to implement the unified Mass in the archdiocese from July 3.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.