Farmers protest shortage of DAP fertiliser, block road in Sirsa

Farmers staged a protest by blocking traffic on the Dabwali road in Sirsa today to demand an immediate supply of DAP fertiliser. Facing a severe shortage of the essential crop nutrient, the frustrated farmers halted traffic, creating a long jam. Raising slogans against the government and the local administration, they demanded a quick resolution to the fertiliser shortage affecting their winter crops.

Local MLA Gokul Setia arrived to support the farmers and joined the protest. Speaking to the gathering, Setia emphasised the urgent need for DAP fertiliser for the upcoming rabi season, warning that the crop yield could suffer due to the shortage. He urged the government to address the issue without delay and threatened a bigger protest if the matter remained unresolved.

Setia warned the administration not to test the farmers’ patience. He suggested that flying squads should conduct raids to check how much fertiliser had arrived, how much had been distributed to farmers and how much was being diverted to the black market.

The protesting farmers alleged that officials were hand in glove with large farmers and black market agents due to which DAP fertiliser was being diverted to these people. They said small farmers waited in long queues from morning and still could not get the fertiliser.

The alleged that trucks carrying the fertiliser arrived but instead of distributing it to all farmers equitably, it was being diverted to the homes of influential persons and large-scale farmers through black market channels.

Administrative officers arrived at the protest site and assured the farmers that the fertiliser supply would soon be restored.

Agriculture Department’s Deputy Director Sukhdev Kamboj, who was present at the scene, assured the farmers in front of MLA Gokul Setia that 40,000 more bags of the fertiliser would be distributed to them on Monday. He added that a coupon system would be implemented to ensure fair distribution among farmers.

Following the joint assurance from the MLA and Agriculture Department officials, the farmers ended their protest and traffic movement resumed.

‘Officials colluding with black marketeers’

• The protesting farmers alleged that officials were hand in glove with big farmers and black market agents, which was why DAP fertiliser was being diverted to these people. They said small farmers waited in long queues from morning and still could not get the fertiliser.
• They alleged that while trucks carrying the fertiliser came, instead of distributing the crop nutrient to all farmers equitably, it was being diverted to the homes of influential persons.