Fertiliser crisis in Mizoram due to Myanmar smuggling: Min

Aizawl: Mizoram agriculture & farmers’ welfare minister PC Vanlalruata has admitted that large consignments of fertilisers are being smuggled to Myanmar from the state while the farmers in Mizoram do not have sufficient quantity of fertilisers for their cultivation areas.Replying to queries from VL Zaithanzama of the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) in the assembly on Wednesday, Vanlalruata said many unscrupulous people are being tempted to smuggle fertilisers to Myanmar as it is cheap in India due to 90% subsidy provided by the central govt and can be sold at much higher rates in the neighbouring country.He said the agriculture & farmers’ welfare department has received several and repeated complaints from the farmers that they could not find sufficient quantity of fertilisers to buy for their cultivation areas. “The govt has been making concerted efforts to prevent smuggling of fertilisers to Myanmar and the efforts are bearing fruits,” he said.