Farmers make a beeline for fresh supply of DAP fertiliser in Sirsa

Farmers in Sirsa, struggling with a severe fertiliser shortage, received some relief on Monday as 27,000 bags of DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) arrived in the district. The fertiliser was distributed through IFFCO centres and local societies.

Early Monday morning, farmers started gathering at the IFFCO centre in Sirsa to secure their DAP supply. By 9 am, hundreds of farmers had assembled, prompting the local police to deploy Black Cats to manage the large crowd and ensure order.

Farmers were directed to Nehru Park on Janata Bhawan Road, where their Aadhaar cards were checked. They were given coupons and their hands were marked to prevent repeat distribution.

Many farmers shared that they had been trying to get fertiliser for several days. Some had arrived as early as 4 am on Monday. With DAP fertiliser in short supply, getting a bag had become a struggle. According to local authorities, priority was given to farmers who had received coupons on Saturday.

Gurdeep Singh, a local farmers' leader, confirmed that new DAP stock had indeed arrived, but he voiced concerns about black marketing. He accused some shopkeepers of hoarding fertiliser with the help of department officials, causing further challenges for genuine farmers.

Notably, this shortage had led to protests just a few days ago on Dabwali Road, where farmers demanded immediate action, joined by local MLA Gokul Setia.

Meanwhile, Sukhdev Singh Kamboj, Deputy Director, Agriculture Department, assured that more fertiliser was on the way. He announced that an additional 40,000 bags would arrive by Tuesday evening, enough to meet the district’s needs. He urged farmers to stay patient, promising that everyone would soon have adequate fertiliser supplies.

Chaos in Odhan village

In Odhan, farmers faced chaos while trying to obtain DAP fertiliser due to soaring demand and limited supply. Long lines can be seen daily at cooperative societies and IFFCO centres, with farmers often leaving with only one or two bags after hours of waiting. On Monday, about 600 farmers gathered early at the IFFCO centre after receiving messages about a new shipment. However, the late arrival of staff at 11 am triggered tension, leading to a scuffle among farmers. Police were called to manage the situation and manage the crowd. Tokens were distributed for a streamlined distribution. By 4 pm, only 250 farmers had received their bags, while the remaining farmers were promised supply on Tuesday.