Fertilizer prices | Maharashtra Congress warns of State-wide agitation

Hike will result in big industrialists grabbing agriculture from farmers, it says

A day after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar wrote to the Centre against exponential hike in fertilizer prices, the Maharashtra Congress on Wednesday announced a State-wide “bell ringing” (ghantanaad) agitation if the rise is not withdrawn within two days. “At first, three anti-farmer Acts were brought by the Central government, it began the process of destroying farmers. Now, with almost one and half times increase in the fertilizer prices, the farmers will face yet another financial burden. Many will not be able to face this pressure and will be left with no option but to handover their farms for contract farming,” said State party president Nana Patole. He said the hike will ultimately result in big industrialists grabbing agriculture from farmers.