IFFCO the largest fertilizer cooperative of the world has donated Rs two crore to the apex farmers’ marketing cooperative federation of Bihar, Biscomaun which, among other things, sells its urea to the poor farmers of the state at a reasonable rate.
In a mail sent to Indian Cooperative, Dr Sunil Singh Chairman of Biscomaun thanked IFFCO MD for his large-heartedness and said Biscomaun stands where you see it today partly because of IFFCO’s support.
It bears recall that Biscomaun began selling IFFCO urea a couple of years ago and maintained its rate of Rs 301 per bag, come what may. “This was my commitment made to the IFFCO MD and we did not allow the rate to rise at any cost”, added Sunil.
The check-giving ceremony was held at impressive Biscomaun Bhawan located on the western flank of Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Tuesday. IFFCO’s senior officials Y P Singh accompanied the State Manager Ajay Singh to the event. A host of Biscomaun Directors including its Vice Chairman Gopal Giri were witness to the event.
“Besides the MD of Biscomaun, more than a dozen cooperators including Ramesh Chandra Chaube, Ram Kalevar Singh, Raghvansh Narayan Singh, Mahesh Rai, Ram Vishun Singh were present on the occasion”, wrote Biscomaun Chairman in the mail.
He also claimed that due to the coming together of IFFCO and Biscomaun the black-marketing of urea has stopped in the state. “Middlemen are out of job”, he added.
Biscomaun has set up more than 125 centres for selling urea and has stocked close to 88 thousand metric tonnes in many of its godown. Biscomaun Chairman claims the move has saved roughly Rs 200 crore of poor farmers in the state which used to be eaten up by the middlemen. It bears recall that Bihar is one of the states where the incidence of farmers’ unrest and suicide is almost nil.
Cooperators present on the occasion thanked IFFCO and its MD for their support. It is cooperation among cooperatives at its best, quipped Gopal Giri.