Farmers apprise DC of fertiliser shortage

Representatives of various farmer unions met the Deputy Commissioner here on Saturday and apprised him of the problems being faced by the agrarian community, especially the shortage of DAP fertiliser which is required for sowing wheat.

The farmer leaders apprised DC Sakshi Sawhney of the panic, gripping their community due to the shortage of DAP as the sowing of wheat crop would begin soon. They requested the DC to make arrangements for sufficient stocks of the fertiliser so that farmers could sow their crop without having to buy it from the black market.

Farmer leaders Satnam Singh Ajnala, Dhanwant Singh Khatraikalan, and others also apprised the DC of the low basmati prices and demanded that the government fix an MSP of Rs 5,500 for the 1121 variety and Rs 4,500 for the 1509 variety of basmati.

Ajnala said fertiliser sellers were tagging unnecessary and costly chemicals with the sale of DAP. “If somebody needs DAP, the sellers ask him to buy chemicals and other items along with it, which are not required but the farmer has to comply because he needs the DAP. This causes unnecessary financial burden,” he said.

The farmer leaders also demanded that entry and exit routes to Bhagatawala Dana Mandi be widened and well maintained. They added that a new passage should also be created to ensure that no traffic jams were caused on the way to the mandi or while exiting it.