INDORE: Fresh bitterness among farmers due to a spurt in fertiliser prices ahead of the rabi sowing season that also coincides with the assembly polls may escalate troubles for BJP, which is still struggling to douse kisan anger.The hike in cost of fertilisers and pesticides has pushed up cost of cultivation, forcing farmers to shell over 15% more for rabi season, starting October-end. The state goes to the polls on November 28.Mohanlal Pandey, a farmer from Mhow who owes 50 bighas of land said, "Cost of cultivation has gone up sharply due to high price of fertilisers and diesel, but most of the crops are selling below MSP. Losses are escalating daily but there is no government intervention."BJP already faces strong resentment over a slump in crop prices. Violent protests spread across half the state last year and led to police firing in Mandsaur in which five farmers were killed.BJP believes it has things under control. Lokendra Parashar, state BJP media in-charge, said, "Farmers are not going to get hit by rise in fesrtiliser prices because the government is paying 1.5 times the cost of cultivation to farmers. Besides we are also giving premium on MSP."Costs of fertilisers and pesticides have gone up by 16% to 50%, say leading manufacturers and suppliers. R K Jain, an Indore-based fertiliser manufacturer, said, "Fertiliser prices have jumped sharply because most of the raw material is imported from China. With a slowdown in import and weakness in Indian currency, the cost in the home market has escalated sharply." India is heavily dependent on imports for phosphatic fertilisers.Congress leader K K Mishra said, "This is an artificial shortage created by the government because they are shielding middlemen and hoarders. The government should give data on action taken on such middlemen in the past 15 years."P K Mishra, a pesticide manufacturer said, "Pesticide prices have gone up by over 30% and the cost has been passed on to consumers. This is a very tough time for farmers who are always end at the receiving end."

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