Farmers clash for fertiliser, police called to control situation in Odisha’s Ganjam

A chaotic scene unfolded on Thursday at Gokarnapur Seva Samabaya Samiti (a cooperative society) under Digapahandi block of Odisha’s Ganjam district, where farmers clashed and pushed each other while waiting in long lines to receive fertiliser.

Also Read: Fertiliser shortage leads to clash among farmers in Odisha’s Ganjam

With the rabi season underway, demand for urea and other fertilisers has surged. Desperate to secure their share, hundreds of local farmers, including women, lined up for hours. The situation spiraled out of control as pushing, shoving, and stampede-like conditions broke out, leading to the intervention by police to bring law and order under control.

Witnesses reported that some women farmers fainted due to the suffocating crowd and lack of order. The chaos reflected the severe shortage and poor crowd management at the distribution site.

Eventually, local police were deployed to restore order and assist the Samiti functionaries with crowd control. Authorities are now facing criticism for not anticipating the rush and failing to implement proper arrangements.

The incident has raised serious questions about the fertiliser distribution system, especially during critical agricultural periods.

However, no comments were received from local police or the Samiti functionaries.

Earlier in another incident, tensions had flared on August 28 at Sandhi Gunduribadi village cooperative centre under Sorada block in Ganjam district, as hundreds of local farmers clashed in a desperate attempt to secure urea fertiliser.

“I have been coming for the last four days, but have not been getting fertiliser and returning empty-handed. There was a heavy rush here for the fertiliser, and one bag per head is now being sold after the police intervened. I need at least five bags,” a local farmer had said.

Likewise, another farmer had expressed, “I came for the fertiliser at around 9.00 AM, but I am still waiting since morning. As my number (turn) has not come yet, I am waiting on an empty stomach.”

Reported By: Satya