Bengaluru, April 18: In a scathing attack on the centre for rising prices of fertilizers, leader of the opposition and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said that the Agriculture dept has issued orders to sell a new batch of fertilizers at increased prices and this move will destroy the farming community.

In a series of tweeters, he said the BJP government, led by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa took an oath by wearing a green shawl but issuing a death warrant against farmers in the form of increasing the prices of fertilizers.

He said that Union Minister for Fertilizers and Chemicals D V Sadanada Gowda had claimed to distribute fertilizers at old prices but the order issued by the Agriculture department seems to contradict the minister’s claims. Is there no value for the Minister’s statement or Is there any confusion between the Centre & State govt?

He said the ruling BJP government at the centre has increased the prices of fertilizers by more than 60 per cent. Prices of DAP fertilizer were increased by Rs 1400 per quintal from April 1. It was Rs 2400 till April 1 but now it is Rs 3800.

Stating that the Prices of Nitrogen, Phosphorus & Potash have been increased by Rs 1250 per quintal. It was available at Rs 2350 but now farmers have to pay Rs 3600. This increase will destroy farmers, he alleged.

There is demand for 6.5 lakh metric tons of DAP but there is only 77,401 mt of old stock available. Rest will be sold at higher prices. The same is with other fertilizers as well. Required MOP is 3.15 lakh metric tons (MT) but available old stock is 74,000 mt, he pointed out.

Demand for NPK fertilizer is 14.15 lakh mt but the available old stock is just 2.55 lakh mt. Most of the farmers will have to procure it from new stock. This will substantially increase their input costs, he added.(UNI)