DAP shortage: Farmers return empty handed from Sirsa sale centre
As the sowing season of mustard begins, farmers in the area are struggling with the shortage of DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) fertiliser.
Complaints about cooperative societies not distributing the fertiliser adequately have emerged from various places.
At Barasari village in Sirsa district, a sales centre experienced chaos as farmers gathered to purchase DAP fertiliser. The scene escalated when a salesperson, overwhelmed by the crowd, locked the center and left. Only 27 farmers received a total of 54 bags of fertiliser, despite 500 bags being available at the centre.
The farmers who had arrived early in the morning waited till 5 pm, only to return empty-handed. Farmers Raju, Surendra Kumar, Sushil Kumar and Sunil said they had arrived at the centre early after hearing about the fertiliser delivery. They were informed that each farmer could only receive two bags on one Aadhaar card, which led to a rush of farmers. However, the staff locked the door shortly after, leaving many disappointed. The salesperson, Madanlal, did not return even after the police arrived to manage the situation.
The farmers expressed their concerns, saying, “It’s the time for field work, and our whole day was wasted. Besides, we did not receive the fertiliser either. How will we sow mustard now?” They emphasised the urgency of getting the fertiliser during the sowing season.
Indrapal, an official at the Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS), confirmed that 500 bags of DAP fertiliser had indeed arrived at the Barasari sales centre.
He mentioned that on Tuesday, employees distributed 54 bags to 27 farmers before the crowd grew too large. The police were alerted to control the situation, but the salesperson had to attend to another matter in the office. He said with the cooperation of the police, the DAP fertiliser will be distributed again on Wednesday, ensuring that farmers get the support they need.
MLA Gokul Setia acknowledged the fertiliser shortage and urged officials to ensure that farmers receive the fertiliser as soon as possible.
