Udaipur, January 5 (Udaipur Kiran): Angry over the acute shortage of urea fertiliser, farmers in Udaipur staged a symbolic and satirical protest outside the Agriculture Department office under the banner of the Mewar Kisan Sangharsh Samiti.
To draw the government’s attention, protesting farmers garlanded donkeys and fed them gulab jamun, while also paying floral tribute to a photograph of a fertiliser bag, symbolically declaring urea as “dead”. The protest was aimed at highlighting the hardships faced by farmers during the peak sowing season due to non-availability of fertiliser.
Samiti convener Vishnu Patel alleged that large-scale black marketing of urea is taking place when farmers need it the most. He claimed that instead of the government-fixed price of ₹277 per bag, farmers are being forced to pay between ₹450 and ₹500. Patel accused officials of facilitating the black marketing in exchange for commissions.
Farmers further alleged irregularities in distribution through POS machines. As per norms, a farmer can receive up to 10 bags through a POS machine, but shopkeepers are allegedly not issuing slips. As a result, farmers remain unaware of how many bags are being shown as issued in their names. Patel claimed that while some farmers are taking only two bags, records are being manipulated to show 10 bags against their names, with no confirmation messages received on their mobile phones.
Co-convener Madanlal Dangi said fertiliser black marketing is happening with the tacit support of officials, while farmers are being pushed into distress. He questioned why such shortages continue to occur every year during the Rabi and Kharif seasons despite the government having complete data on agricultural land, crops, and expected production.
The Samiti demanded that fertiliser distribution be regulated on the lines of the ration distribution system, with proper committees overseeing the process. They also demanded that a POS slip be made mandatory for every purchase and that fertiliser allocation be linked strictly to the farmer’s land holding.
After the protest, members of the committee submitted a memorandum to Joint Director of Agriculture Sudhir Verma. The farmers pointed out that similar memorandums had earlier been submitted to the District Collector and SDM around 20 days ago. The Samiti warned that if the issue is not addressed promptly, they would intensify their agitation.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.