Farmers stage road blockade in Nabarangpur over shortage of urea fertilizer

Hundreds of farmers staged a road blockade on State Highway 39 at Umerkote in Nabarangpur district on Sunday, protesting against the unavailability of urea fertilizer. 

As per reports, the agitation began in the morning, bringing vehicular movement between Umerkote and Nabarangpur to a halt. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the road due to the protest.

The farmers expressed strong resentment over the shortage of fertilizer and declared that they would not vacate the road until urea was supplied.

As per the allegation by the protesting farmers, they are not getting urea fertiliser for the last one and half months. Despite requesting the district Collector and other authorities, no solution of the problem has been made so far.

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Earlier a couple of days back, farmers from other places in the district had also hit the streets over the shortage of urea fertiliser. As per the allegation by the farmers, urea is only available in the black market with an exorbitant price and the farmers are not able to buy it.

"We have staged the protest due to the unavailability of urea fertiliser. Though we have requested the administration about the issue, they are not paying any attention to our problems. Urea fertiliser is now essential for us. If the administration does not provide us with urea fertiliser in a couple of days, we will continue our protest. The Tehslidar has assured us to provide urea fertiliser within 10 days. However, the farming work will be delayed by then. We demand that the government provide us with urea fertiliser immediately," said a protesting farmer.

"It is quite unfortunate that though thousands of farmers are growing paddy crop by taking loans, urea fertiliser is not available at LAMPS, and it is only available in the black market with exorbitant price. We are staging the protest to let the administration know how the farmers are suffering," said another protesting farmer.