Out to purchase DAP, farmer dies by suicide at Uklana in Hisar

A marginal farmer from Bhikewala village in Jind district reportedly died after consuming poison when he arrived at a grain market in Uklana of Hisar district to purchase DAP. Jai Pal Singh, a former sarpanch of the village, claimed that the victim, Rambhagat, had been under tremendous pressure due to poor farm returns.

The victim, who lived in a small house in the fields, is survived by his wife, two children and three sisters. He had taken about 5 acres on lease, but suffered losses in the cotton crop recently. “He had to sow wheat and visited the grain market to purchase DAP,” said Jai Pal Singh, adding that the farmer was under debt.

“Beyond comprehension why administration was unable to arrange fertiliser” — Farmer leader

A police official said Rambhagat's family had given a statement that he had been mentally upset for some time.

Meanwhile, rabi sowing season is at its peak in the region, and farmers are desperate to grab DAP bags following a shortage of the fertiliser. There is much at stake as the sowing of mustard, wheat and other crops has been being delayed.

There is no let-up in the situation as the DAP stock is being rationed in Hisar, Fatehabad, Jind and Bhiwani districts. "It is simply beyond comprehension why the administration was not able to arrange the fertiliser," said an exasperated Anil Gorchi, a farmer leader.

As per information, Hisar district has a requirement of 25,000 MT of DAP, but so far, it has been supplied 10,552 MT, forcing the farmers to scramble for the bags.

“There is much to do. We have to manage kharif crop residue in the fields and arrange for DAP,” said Ishwar Singh, a farmer standing outside a shop in Fatehabad.

The situation was marginally better in Fatehabad district as 52,000 bags of DAP were supplied today, but the administration had to rope in police and senior officials to placate farmers rushing to purchase DAP at shops in Jind, Charkhi Dadri and Bhiwani districts.

The farmers have complained that they had to purchase the fertiliser in the open market at a premium.