Standing in queue from morning to evening
Samvad Sutra, Saraigarh (Supaul). These days, farmers are facing serious problems due to severe shortage of urea in Saraigarh-Bhaptiahi block area. Urea is extremely essential for the wheat crop at this time, but farmers in the surrounding areas including Bhaptiyahi market are not able to get urea despite standing in queues in front of fertilizer shops till late evening. Under compulsion, many farmers are being forced to return to their villages empty handed.
There are a total of six fertilizer sellers in Bhaptiyahi market, but urea is not available regularly. Even if urea occasionally comes to a seller, its quantity is so small that despite a long queue of dozens of farmers, only a few people are able to get the fertilizer. The remaining farmers have to return disappointed after waiting for hours.
Farmers got angry when urea was not available
On Wednesday evening, dozens of farmers were seen standing in a long queue in front of a fertilizer seller's shop located in Bhaptiyahi market. When they did not get urea till late evening, the farmers became angry. Farmers said that this situation is not new, but the same story of urea is repeated every year at the time of farming.
Especially in Bhaptiyahi market, either there is indifference of the sellers or adequate quantity of urea is not being allocated. Farmers alleged that under compulsion they have to go outside the villages of Kosi Diara area or buy urea from other markets by paying higher prices.
possibility of production being affected
Due to this, their costs are increasing and farming is becoming a loss-making deal. Farmers said that the wheat crop has been irrigated and now if urea is not received immediately, there is a possibility that the production will be affected.
Fertilizer sellers say that the limited allocation they get is distributed. The remaining quantity is very less, whereas the number of farmers is much higher, in such a situation it is not possible to provide fertilizer to everyone. During this time, some employees of the Agriculture Department were also present on the spot, but no concrete solution to the problems of the farmers was seen.
It is noteworthy that a total of 60 fertilizer sellers are registered in Saraigarh-Bhaptiahi block area, despite this the problems of the farmers are not reducing. At many places, there are also allegations of charging arbitrary prices by the vendors, while the departmental officers and concerned coordinators remain mute spectators. Farmers have demanded from the administration to ensure immediate supply of urea in sufficient quantity and take strict action against black marketing.