As farmers protest, centre assures more manure to Haryana

With protesting farmers blocking road and rail traffic in some parts of Haryana, the central government assured the state government Wednesday that more manure would be despatched to the state.

Haryana Agriculture Minister O.P. Dhankar Wednesday met union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Anant Kumar in New Delhi to discuss the matter regarding the availability of manure in the state.

Kumar assured Dhankar that there would be no shortage of manure supply to the state.

"The union minister said that five railway racks of manure would be sent to Haryana every day. One rack carries 3,000 metric tonnes of manure," Dhankar told the media.

Urging farmers to be patient over the manure shortage issue, Dhankar said that efforts were being made to ensure that there is no shortage of urea and DAP in Haryana.

Angry farmers blocked highways, roads and rail traffic at various places in the state due to non-availability of adequate manure.

The protests were reported from Hisar, Narwana, Bhiwani and other places. Farmers alleged that manure was being sold in the black market.

Dhankar said 324,700 metric tonnes of urea has been allocated to Haryana for the month of December and it was being supplied regularly.

He said cases have been registered against 20 people who were indulging in black marketing of manure.