NILSAL raises concern over distribution of substandard Urea Fertilizers

The Nongpok Imphal Loumee Sinmi Apunba Lup (NILSAL) has raised serious concerns over the alleged distribution of substandard and poor-quality urea fertilizers in Manipur, calling on the Agriculture Department to take immediate corrective measures. In a statement issued by the Secretary of NILSAL, Ch. Nandakishor Singh, the farmers’ body alleged that urea fertilizers recently distributed in the state were of low quality, posing potential threats to agricultural productivity, particularly during the ongoing Kharif season.
NILSAL pointed out that urea fertilizers provided under Union Government schemes to various states and Union Territories have recently come under scrutiny due to reports of poor quality, substandard packaging, and possible black-market diversion. While other states have initiated corrective campaigns to combat the spread of low-grade fertilizers, the Manipur Agriculture Department, it alleged, has failed to take preventive action despite repeated complaints from farmers.
The farmers’ organization highlighted that proper quality checks and field testing should have been conducted before urea distribution. However, in many areas, the fertilizers being supplied were reportedly ineffective and failing to support proper crop growth. Farmers have started reporting stunted growth in paddy fields and yellowing of leaves, believed to be caused by poor nitrogen content in the urea.
It further stated that although the Agriculture Department claims to be following strict guidelines and strategies to ensure quality control, ground realities suggest otherwise. While subsidized urea from Assam and other regions has been routed through government channels, the storage, packaging, and monitoring of these fertilizers have allegedly been mismanaged, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among farmers.
The statement also drew attention to the fact that the urea fertilizers currently in circulation were manufactured in 2022 and may have degraded in quality due to poor storage or age. Farmers who conducted informal testing through JCB and other equipment found that the nitrogen content was significantly lower than required, which could severely impact crop yield this season.
NILSAL urged the Manipur government to conduct thorough investigations and nitrogen-level testing of the urea stocks in circulation. The organization also called on the authorities to halt further distribution until proper quality certification is ensured. It demanded that the Agriculture Department be held accountable for endangering food security and farmer livelihoods through such negligence.
The organization has shared a contact number (7005455673) for affected farmers to report similar issues and has called for collective action to safeguard the interests of the farming community in Manipur.