The steep rise in the prices of phospatic and potassic fertilisers has hit the farmers in the state, especially the paddy cultivators, hard.

Ever since the Centre introduced the nutrient-based subsidy policy on decontrolled phospatic and potassic fertilisers in February 2011, there has been an unprecedented price rise, Desiya Karshaka Samajam general secretary Muthalamthode Mani said. He said that a bag (50 kilogram) of 10:26:26 (nitrogen ,phosphorous and potash)