Allegations of private hoarding deepen Sirsa fertiliser crisis, farmers seek action

A crippling shortage of DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) fertiliser has plunged Sirsa district into an agrarian crisis just as the monsoon-sown cotton (narma) crop season gains momentum. The situation has been worsened by fresh allegations of private hoarding by big traders, who are reportedly stockpiling fertiliser in godowns and selling it at inflated prices.

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On Monday, tensions boiled over at the fertiliser distribution centre on Janata Bhawan Road in Sirsa city, where long queues of desperate farmers resulted in chaos and physical altercations. Police had to be called in to restore order and fertiliser was eventually distributed under their supervision. Similar scenes were reported from several other distribution points across the district.

“Farmers are being pushed to the brink. We stand in lines for hours, sometimes days, and still return empty-handed,” said Devender Singh, a local farmer. “Meanwhile, the big traders are storing fertiliser in warehouses and selling it later at high prices. This is daylight robbery.”

At the Gudia Khera village sale point, only 250 bags of DAP were available — far below the demand. Farmers were limited to two bags each, yet many went home empty-handed. Scuffles broke out as tempers flared among those waiting for their turn.

Videos from the site show farmers alleging they were overlooked despite having registered early in the day. Some claimed that fertiliser was being handed out to individuals without tokens, suggesting manipulation or favouritism in the distribution process.

The crisis has escalated due to the recent monsoon showers, which have made this a critical period for sowing. DAP, essential for early crop growth, is in particularly high demand. Many farmers said they were left with no choice but to purchase fertiliser from private sellers at double the official rate.

Sirsa’s IFFCO District Manager, Sahil, said their last major consignment of DAP arrived in April. “Since then, we haven’t received any DAP. We've requested more supplies, but nothing has arrived so far,” he said.

Other government and cooperative agencies are also struggling to bridge the demand-supply gap. The shortfall, however, continues to bite.

Atma Ram Bhatia, sarpanch representative of Gudia Khera, criticised the administration’s handling of the situation. “This shortage isn’t new. It has been going on for weeks. The Agriculture Department has failed to streamline the supply and farmers are suffering,” he said.

Responding to the unrest and growing number of complaints, the Sirsa district administration issued a statement on Tuesday, promising strict action against hoarding and illegal sales. It warned that licenses of erring dealers may be cancelled and penalties imposed.

The administration also acknowledged receiving reports that some dealers were forcing farmers to buy pesticides and other products along with fertiliser — a clear violation of agricultural sale norms.

Inspection teams have now been deployed across the district to monitor fertiliser distribution, prevent illegal bundling of products and ensure fair pricing. Authorities have assured that legal action will follow after the completion of ongoing investigations.