Jharigaon: Irate over shortage of fertiliser, hundreds of farmers took to streets and later locked the tehsil office at Jharigaon in Nabarangpur district Friday.
Earlier, farmers had apprised the administration for adequate supply of urea, but nothing was done as farming activities are in full swing, it was alleged.
Angry farmers staged a road blockade, bringing traffic to a grinding halt for several hours in the area.
They pointed out that insufficient rainfall had already taken a toll on farming while urea shortage has made the situation far worse for the farming now.
According to reports, paddy has been cultivated in 8,656 hectares in Jharigaon block while maize was raised in 7,850 hectares in the kharif season. There is a need for 2500 metric tonnes of fertiliser for the farming. A LAMPS and 45 licensed retailers have been authorised to sell fertiliser.
However, till date, 4072 metric tonnes of fertilisers have been sold till date, according to sources in the block agriculture department.
The problem is that 60 per cent of maize has been illegally cultivated in forest land in Jharigaon block. These farmers are not entitled to get fertilisers while genuine paddy farmers are unable to get their share of urea at this time.
“Shortage of urea has affected farming in the area even as farming activities are in full swing. Despite repeated reminders to the administration. Nothing is done to ensure fertiliser to us. We are bound to stage protests,” farmers said.
Farmers locked the main gate of the tehsil office and forced the shops to down their shutters in Jharigaon town. They lay siege to the road for hours near the bus stand.
BDO Satyanarayan Meher, district agriculture officer Tankadhar Sahu, additional district agriculture officer Bibhu Bhusan Mahakud, block agriculture officer Sunita Singh and ASI Pramod Kumar Khandual tried to convince the agitating farmers, who clamoured for immediate supply of fertilisers.
They asked the officials who will be responsible as lack of fertilisers has affected paddy harvest this year.
The DAO assured the farmers in a written format that the block will get 4,000 packets of urea and all farmers will be supplied the fertilizer though the LAMPS and licensed traders.
It may be noted here that farmers from 12 panchayats, members of Dabugaon Krushak Sangh and Congress workers had blocked SH-39 over short supply of fertilisers.
PNN
