Chennai: PMK founder leader C Ramadoss on Friday urged the Centre and Tamil Nadu government to take steps to protect farmers from rising fertiliser prices.
In a statement, he said, "The impact of West Asia conflict and fluctuation in international markets have driven up fertiliser prices sharply in the country, causing great concern among farmers."
"In particular, the prices of potash and basic fertilisers such as urea and sulphate are also steadily increasing, directly threatening the livelihood of farming communities," he said.
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Highlighting the challenges faced by farmers such as climate change, water scarcity, rising labour costs, power supply issues, and inadequate prices for their crops, the PMK leader said, "now, with fertiliser costs climbing, they are being pushed into even deeper financial distress".
"There is a real danger that input costs per acre will multiply," he warned adding small and marginal farmers may hesitate to sow crops. "This could lead to reduced food production in the future, higher market prices, and threats to food security."
Stressing that agriculture was the backbone of the nation's food security, he said "therefore, the government should provide additional subsidies on fertilisers, ensure availability of affordable fertilisers through cooperative societies, intensify monitoring to prevent black marketeering and hoarding and announce special relief schemes for small and marginal farmers".
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"When farmers are secure, the nation's economy and food security remain strong," he said urging swift action to reduce fertiliser prices.
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