The Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers Factory (MCF) which has been considered as the King and the one & only fertilizer factory since 42 years has stopped its production. As a result of this, about 5000 workers are suffering today and their livelihood is affected very much. MCF was started in 1972 in the industrial area of Baikampady of Mangalore Taluk and started fertilizer production. It was under the direct ownership of central and state governments and incurred losses during 1990. It was purchased by ‘U.B. Group’ owned by Vijaya Mallya who belong to the same district. Vijaya Mallya has got 30% partnership and the remaining portion was owned by the central government. But, MCF has now stopped its production and the one & only fertilizer factory of the State has now entered the history. Moreover, MCF workers have approached the government with the slogans “Save MCF factory”, “Protect poor farmers”, etc.

Reason for stopping fertilizer production:

During 2011, the UPA government gave an order to the factories manufacturing Urea, supporting “Nafta”. As per this, all the business industries of the nation supporting Nafta were asked to convert as gas based manufacturing units. For this reason, the central government cancelled the subsidy given on Nafta. Hence, the government has passed clear notice to install gas-based manufacturing units in 40 fertilizer factories of the nation totally. But, to implement this project, gas-based manufacturing units should have been constructed in all the factories. Though this arrangement has been conceived in Mangalore Fertilizer factory at a cost of about Rs.350 Crores, implementation is not yet been done. If this gas project has to be implemented, gas should be supplied to MCF through gas pipe. For this reason, the association ‘GAIL India’ has made an agreement with MCF. But, GAIL pipeline has currently reached till Cochin of Kerala. But the project is stopped in the middle because of non-encroachment of land in some places. Since the time limit given by the central government is expired, stoppage of production has become inevitable.

5000 workers have become unemployed

More than 5000 workers were depending on MCF for their livelihood. Out of this, 2000 people were company workers and the remaining people were working on contract basis. Not only from Mangalore, but people from nook and corner of the country were depending on this company for their livelihood. Since the factory has stopped its production now, the workers could not find the way to lead their life. The workers are demanding that the government should interefere in this matter and should re-generate the MCF factory.

How important is MCF to the nation?

About 90% of the farmers of our nation are using the Urea fertilizer manufactured by MCF. Hence, large volume of Urea is needed for the nation. In order to help the food providers, more than 40 Urea manufacturing factories are running all over the country. In South India, we have three factories and MCF in Mangalore is also one among them. Though we have more than 40 factories in the country, still it is not possible to supply enough quantity of Urea needed for the whole country. Currently, 60% of the Urea needed by our farmers is supplied from our country itself and the balance is imported from various other countries. Moreover, MCF in Mangalore was supplying Urea to Kerala, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Hence, it was clear that MCF factory was supplying about 05% Urea of the nation. Moreover, everyone knows that how much Urea is needed for our farmers in the whole country. Because, Haveri Goli Bar is the best example for this.

Whether the government will take steps to regenerate this fertilizer factory having 42 years of history is our next question. But, the life of people depending on this factory is highly miserable now.