Deogarh/Malkangiri/Chhatrapur: Protests erupted across several districts in Odisha Sunday as frustrated farmers took to the streets, blocked roads and highways, and accused dealers and officials of failing to ensure an adequate and timely supply of urea fertiliser during the peak agricultural season.
In Deogarh district, hundreds of farmers staged a road blockade near Jhadeswar Temple Square on the Deogarh-Riamal main road. The protest, which lasted for nearly 30 minutes, was triggered by an acute shortage of urea and allegations of black marketing by private dealers. Farmers claimed that while godowns remained closed during the day, dealers sold urea at inflated prices late at night.
The government-fixed price for urea is Rs267 per bag, but private dealers were allegedly selling it for over Rs350. “We urgently need urea for paddy transplantation and weeding. If we can’t get it now, our crops will fail,” said one protesting farmer.
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Following the protest, the godown was opened around 10:30am, but farmers had to wait for hours in the scorching sun to purchase fertiliser.
District Farmers’ Association president Bijay Kumar Pradhan said repeated fertiliser shortages were severely impacting cultivation. “If the administration curbs black marketing and ensures timely supply, farmers will be relieved,” he said.
Sem Hembram, president of Zilla Sangharsh Sangh, squarely blamed the Agriculture department and district officials for poor management. “Recently, farmers had to shut down the agriculture office over shortages of DAP and Gromor fertilisers. Now, the same is happening with urea. If the situation doesn’t improve, we will gherao the Agriculture department and the Collector’s office,” he warned.
Attempts to reach District Agriculture Officer-In-Charge Manoj Marandi for comment were unsuccessful.
In Malkangiri district, farmers blocked National Highway 326 near Maharajpalli panchayat in Kalimela block, placing logs and burning tyres to halt traffic along the busy Vijayawada-Ranchi corridor. The protest began at 7am and caused major traffic snarls for several hours.
Farmers said repeated visits to PACS (Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies) and LAMPS (Large Area Multi-Purpose Societies) outlets had yielded nothing. “It is the peak time for fertiliser application in our paddy fields, yet we have no stock,” a protesting farmer said.
Guruchand Mandal, LAMPS branch manager at Maharajpalli, arrived at the site around 11am and assured farmers that 600 to 650 bags of urea would arrive by Tuesday. The blockade was lifted following his assurance. Earlier, similar protests over black marketing were reported in Pusuguda panchayat.
In Ganjam district, farmers braved heavy rain to stand in long queues outside PACS outlets in Chhatrapur block. At the Landa Baunsh PACS, farmers said they had been waiting since 5am, only to receive a single bag of fertiliser, despite needing at least seven bags each. Officials said only 225 bags were available, while over 1,000 were required in the area.
Although Agriculture department officials denied any scarcity, farmers accused them of ignoring ground realities. “They just come, take photos during raids, and post them online. Farmers are our food providers, but no one seems to care,” said Simanchal Nahak, secretary of the Rushikulya Rayat Mahasabha.
Nahak and other farmer leaders questioned why the government was relying on private traders instead of strengthening the cooperative supply chain.
Neelakantha Dash, district joint secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), warned of statewide protests if the government fails to respond swiftly.
Farmer leader Mathura Charan Subudhi demanded the immediate release and distribution of fertilisers through official channels and strict action against black marketing. “The government calls itself a people’s government. Are farmers not its people?” asked Subudhi.
As the Kharif season progresses, mounting anger and supply disruptions threaten to derail Odisha’s paddy cultivation, underscoring the urgent need for systemic reform in fertiliser distribution across the state.
Godowns, shops raided
Amid growing complaints of fertiliser shortage and black marketing, an enforcement team raided multiple godowns and retail outlets in Chhatrapur Saturday.
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The team, led by Additional Tehsildar Manoj Kumar Pradhan, Agriculture Officer Sanmarg Kar, and Fertiliser Inspector Nihar Ranjan Dash, found irregularities, including overpricing, during inspections. Dealers were warned that any further violations could lead to licence cancellation. Farmers in Ganjam district had earlier raised concerns over fertiliser scarcity and inflated prices, claiming they were being forced to buy urea and other inputs above the government-fixed rates.
Officials have since assured that adequate stocks are available and urged farmers to purchase fertilisers only at authorised prices.
According to government sources, MARKFED has allocated 14,166 metric tonnes (MT) of fertilisers to PACS across the district. In the first phase, 1,800 MT are being distributed through 126 PACS in all 22 blocks under Chhatrapur sub-division. Seven PACS in Chhatrapur block received 100 MT Saturday. Authorities said the supply will continue in phases until the demand is fully met and the situation normalises.
PNN
