Cooperative Societies Can Now Only Buy Fertilisers From Markfed

Bhubaneswar: All the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS), LAMPCS (Large Area Multi-Purpose Cooperative Societies) and Farmers Service Co Operative Society (FSCS) in the State can now purchase fertilizers only from Odisha State Cooperative Marketing Federation (Markfed).

In a letter to all its area managers, the Markfed-Odisha has strictly directed them to henceforth ensure that cooperative societies buy fertilizers only from the federation.

The Markfed also barred all PACS, LAMPCS and FSCS to purchase urea from any other agencies including the Indian Farmer's Fertilisers Cooperative Limited (IFFCO).

It may be noted that Markfed is the only state-run agency which provides service in the field of marketing and distribution of chemical fertilizers to PACS/LAMPCS in the State. The State Government has also provided Rs 75 crore to Markfed for pre-positioning of urea.

However, there were allegations that some societies were becoming dealers of IFFCO by taking licenses from the district agriculture officer and thereby violating the rule.