Post drought, farmers brave urea shortage

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 3

The BKU (Sidhupur) condemned the state government's move to impose tax on water used for irrigation purposes. They also expressed resentment over the unavailability of urea. They said urea was being sold on black market, leading to the exploitation of farmers.

They also sought a fixed rate for potatoes. They also demanded Rs 50 per quintal hike for sugarcane. Presently, the government is giving Rs 300 per quintal.

These issues were raised during a meeting of farmer leaders at the Haji Rattan gurdwara in Bathinda. The leaders also decided to submit a memorandum to the state government on World Human Rights Day.

Many farmers had begun sowing wheat but now due to a shortage of urea in cooperative societies, they have been left in the lurch. They are blaming the Agriculture Department for its failure in providing the necessary stock of urea to cooperative societies.

The each bag of urea cost up to Rs 250 and farmers need around two bags per acre. A number of farmers have been forced to purchase urea from the market. Earlier, the farmers who are members of cooperative societies used to get urea on loan from there.

BKU (Sidhupur) general secretary Mukhtiar Singh said, “Farmers are being robbed by shopkeepers as they have been forced to purchase urea and other inputs from them. Earlier, they had to face drought and untimely rain, resulting in losses to them."

“The indifferent attitude of the Agriculture Department is responsible for the situation. There is not even a single bag of urea available at offices cooperative societies. A number of farmers, who are members of cooperative societies, have received a double blow as they are facing difficulty in paying dues to the cooperative societies. Now, these farmers will have to take loan from money lenders. They have complained a number of times about the black-marketing of urea and exploitation of farmers at the hands of shopkeepers but this year again the department failed to ensure the required supply of urea," added Mukhtiar Singh.

In Bathinda, the area under wheat crop stood at 2.55 lakh hectares last year. This year, the area under the crop is likely to touch 2.52 lakh hectares. Against the need of 42,000 metric tonnes of urea, only 16,000 metric tonne is available.