FACT imports 25,000 tonnes of potash

Kochi, Nov 21 (UNI) The public-sector Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT) is importing 25,000 tonnes of Muriate of Potash (MoP) from Lithuania for trading in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The ship carrying the consignment will reach the Kochi Port by the end of this week, according to a FACT press release.

Potash is a vital nutrient required for balanced application of fertilisers for all crops like paddy, coconut, rubber and plantain.

There has been a shortage for potash in the southern market for quite some time. FACT decided to import this fertiliser as part of of its marketing strategy to increase trading of fertilisers along with increasing indigenous production.

Out of the 25,000 tonnes of MoP now being imported, 15,000 tonnes will be sold in Kerala and the remaining in Tamil Nadu.

Even though selling of imported potash in Kerala is not profitable as compared to that in Tamil Nadu due to the higher handling charges at the Kochi Port, FACT has still earmarked 15,000 tonnes for Kerala in order to protect the interest of farmers of the state. With the availability of imported MoP in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the difficulties faced by farmers of these states due to shortage of the fertiliser will be over, the release added.

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