State government urged to bear transportation cost of fertilisers

Godown in Kushalnagar has 9,000 tonnes of fertilisers

All the co-operative societies in Kodagu district resolved to urge the state government to bear the transportation cost of fertilisers stored in Kushalnagar branch of Karnataka state Co-operative Marketing Federation.

The Co-operative Society Presidents and managers took the decision at a meeting organised by the District Co-operative Union, State Co-operative Marketing Federation, held under the presidentship of Zilla Panchayat President Shantheyanda Ravi Kushalappa here on Saturday.

The godown in Kushalnagar has 9,000 tonne fertilisers. The co-operative societies get only 40 per cent of the transportation cost from the government.

The remaining 60 per cent should be borne by the cooperative societies. Hence, it was decided to urge the government to bear the transportation cost of fertilisers. 

Zilla Panchayat President Ravi Kushalappa said the state government deciding to bear 40 per cent of the transportation cost is a welcome move.

This will reduce the burden of the co-operative societies to some extent. However, with the Centre hiking the price of petroleum products 13 times in a year, the price of fertilisers have skyrocketed.

Bond Ganapathy said “few private companies are directly selling the fertilisers to co-operative societies. Hence there was no transportation cost. When we purchase fertilisers from Federation, then we have to bear the transportation cost. Hence, the price of fertilisers will be increased.”

Ballaranda Mani Uthappa said “there is a burden on farmers with the Centre stopping subsidy on the fertilisers. There is a need to fight against the Centre’s decision to stop subsidy on fertilisers.”

Pudiyokkada Bellu Somaiah said “the Centre has reduced 60 per cent of the subsidy on the fertilisers. There will be no subsidy on the fertilisers from next year. Without subsidy, there will be steep hike in the price of fertilisers.”

District Co-operative Union Manager Manjula, Agriculture department Joint Director Shivamallu and others were present.