Chemical fertilizer price hike causes distress among small farmers in Kottayam

Small farmers, who depend only on crops like rubber, cardamom, banana, and paddy, are facing severe difficulties. They report that it is difficult to repay debts, even after mortgaging gold. The increase in fertilizer prices, which is primarily due to global market prices of fertilizer materials and chemicals, has severely impacted the farmers. The cost of production in agriculture is now beyond what is affordable, according to the farmers.