Goa, June 10 -- MARCOS GONSALVES

As Goa's paddy cultivation season gets un derway, farmers are facing yet another blow from soar ing input costs, with sharp increases in fertiliser prices and shortages of key prod ucts threatening to push up food prices and deepen the financial distress already gripping the agricultural sector.

The fertiliser crisis comes at a time when cultivators are already struggling with rising fuel prices, higher electricity tariffs, escalating labour costs and increasing transportation expenses. Farmers warn that the lat est surge in fertiliser pric es could make cultivation economically unviable for many, potentially reducing agricultural output and adding fresh inflationary pressure on consumers. Particularly w...