The Hindu Business Line : Fertiliser dealers seek time to dispose DAP stocks

Tiruchi, June 30 Private fertiliser dealers have sought at least 60 days time to dispose the di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) stocks left with them in the wake of government decision to sell the fertilisers only through cooperative societies from July owing to complaints of shortage from farmers.

An emergency executive committee meeting of the Tamil Nadu Agro-Input Traders Association, which claims a membership of 11,000 licensed dealers (a majority of them retailers), also appealed to the government not to discontinue supply of DAP through private dealers and offered to form a self-regulatory body to monitor the distribution of the fertilizer through its members.

Denies hoarding

The association denied that dealers have resorted to hoarding or profiteering in the State. A few brokers or dealers may have resorted to clandestine transport of the fertiliser to some neighbouring states and the government could initiate against them. To blame all retail dealers, would be unjustified, it contended.

The association President, MrVijanataraj, told presspersons that private dealers have been left with more than 50 per cent of the 28,000 tonnes of DAP lifted by them. They have been told orally to dispose their stocks before July 4. “But this would be impossible and the demand for the fertiliser would continue for the next couple of months,” he maintained.

“The verification exercise by officials in various districts over the past few days has not resulted in unearthing any unaccounted stocks from private dealers. All the stocks were accounted for properly,” he added.

More Stories on : Fertilisers | Tamil Nadu

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page