Kel Chemicals, one of the companies mentioned to have allegedly been involved in supplying the fake fertilizers, has faulted the National Cereals and Produce Board over the compensation of farmers affected by the fake fertilizer.
In a statement issued by the manufacturing company, the announcement made by the National Cereals and Produce Board, stating that the farmers will be compensated, raises fundamental questions about the sudden hurry by the board to carry out such an exercise. The manufacturing company further went ahead to highlight that they did not take part in the production of the fake fertilizer, prompting questions on the legality and the genuineness of NCPB’s move to compensate farmers.
“Our attention has been drawn to an exercise where NCPB announced that farmers who lodged complaints will be compensated. We wish to dissociate ourselves from the planned exercise. It would be impossible for NCPB to carry out such an exercise, yet the investigations are still ongoing. We wish to state that the fake fertilizer did not originate from us. This planned activity raises fundamental questions on why there is a sudden hurry to compensate farmers,” said Devesh Patel, the Chief Operating Officer.
The company was under scrutiny after farmers complained over fake fertilizers where the Ministry of Agriculture under Mithika Linturi was fingered and held responsible.
Kel Chemicals maintains that they will not be part of this exercise because the impugned fertilizers did not originate from them.