Spurious fertilisers a bane for farmers in Khammam

Khammam: The government of Telangana is finding it difficult to curtail the sales of spurious fertilisers of DAP, 28:28 and CAS (calcium, ammonia, nitrogen) to farmers in Khammam district.

According to estimates, the money from sale of spurious fertilisers is more than Rs 10 crore. Most of the spurious fertilisers comes from Mylavaram, Tadepalligudem, Eluru and Tiruvuru towns in Andhra Pradesh.

Mandals that share their borders with Andhra Pradesh were found to be most vulnerable.

Spurious fertilisers are being sold to farmers at lower than the market price. When the farmers question the traders why the fertilisers are being sold at cheaper rates, the traders tell them that it is the stock of last year.

Attracted by the lower prices and the bulk availability, many of the farmers in Penuballi, Aswaraopeta, Vemsoor, Mulakalapalli, Chandrugonda, Sattupalli, Thallada, Kallur, Madhira and Errupalem brought the fertilisers. After spraying it in the fields, farmers found the fertilisers to be of inferior quality.

Farmers in Sattupalli approached MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah and explained the situation. The issue was brought to the notice of the government officials and farm staff has been asked to check the quality of the fertilisers.

Mr Venkata Veeraiah said, "Farmers who have already sprayed their fields with the spurious fertilisers will lose their crop and farm officials need to caution other farmers immediately."

Farm officials have sent samples of the suspected spurious fertilisers to the laboratory for checks and will conduct surprise checks at the border check posts.