Forced to buy products with DAP, say farmers
Farmers in Rohtak are expressing frustration over being compelled to purchase unnecessary products alongside the DAP fertiliser they require for wheat sowing. Many report that dealers are insisting on additional purchases, such as zinc and sulfur, before they can buy the much-needed DAP, which is currently in short supply.
“We are forced to buy these extra products, even though we don’t need them, just to obtain DAP,” said Ashok Rathi, a farmer rights activist. Farmers’ unions have raised this issue with the authorities and requested intervention, yet the practice persists.
Balwan Singh, secretary of the district unit of the All-India Kisan Sabha, stated, “Dealers are exploiting farmers’ urgent need for DAP due to its limited availability. They only sell it to those who agree to buy other unnecessary products.”
In response, a meeting with fertiliser wholesalers was held at the office of Deputy Director of Agriculture, Dr Surender Singh. During this meeting, Dr Singh instructed wholesalers to refrain from bundling other products with DAP sales. He warned that legal action would be taken against those found guilty of this practice.
However, Dr Singh mentioned that no specific complaints had been filed against any individual dealer. He assured that strict action would be initiated if affected farmers submit written complaints.
