Farmers, traders seek adequate Urea supply in Pulwama market

Pulwama, March 17: Farmers and traders from various areas of south Kashmir’s Pulwama have urged authorities for ensuring adequate supply of chemical fertilizers in the district.
The representatives of farmers and trade body said that they face shortage of chemical fertilizer urea.
Urea is used as agriculture fertilizer throughout country because of its high nitrogen content, which is an essential macro nutrient for plant growth and development.
Mohammad Altaf Kar, President Traders Federation Pulwama, said that this is the peak season of farming in Kashmir valley.
“During this season demand for chemical fertilizer urea increases significantly because it is used in agriculture for top dressing of crops like pea,” he said, adding that at this moment urea is also used to fertilize apple and almond trees.
He said that many farmers from various areas of Pulwama approached them complaining shortage of urea in the market.
A fertilizer dealer wishing anonymity said that since the start of this farming season they have been running short in urea.
“At least we are 60% deficient in urea at this time,” he said, adding around 400 growers returned empty handed from their fertilizer shop during past week.
The representatives of the Traders Federation Pulwama along with some farmers staged a peaceful demonstration on Friday at old bus stand in the town.
They demanded authorities for making adequate quantity of Urea available in the market.
Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama, Mohammad Iqbal Khan, said that shortage of Urea was found in whole Kashmir valley.
“There was some conflict of interest between the company and transporters on fare,” he said, adding that due to this stand-off fertilizer dumped at Udhampur was not getting supplied to Kashmir.
Khan said that he is hopeful that fertilizer from Udhampur reaches Kashmir valley very soon.