Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 19

The shortage of urea has created problems for farmers in Sangrur while officials of the Multipurpose Agriculture Services Society say they have sent the demand to senior authorities.

Farmers allege private sellers are charging higher rates as the authorities have failed to ensure timely supply of urea. “I have been making repeated rounds of our society, but salesmen say they have sent the demand to the higher-ups. They do not know when the supply of urea would be ensured. Government authorities should look into the matter as farmers are already under debt. They cannot purchase urea from the market at higher rates,” said Ranbir Singh, a farmer from the Nadampur area.

There are total 222 societies in Sangrur district. Some other farmers alleged that from the society, they could purchase urea at the rate of Rs 266 per bag of 45 kg, but the private traders were selling the same at the rate of Rs 280 per bag.

“I have bought urea at a higher rate of Rs 280 per bag from a private shop. Government authorities are not taking any action against shopkeepers for selling urea at inflated prices,” said Kulwinder Teja, another farmer of the area.

Alloarkh society secretary Jagmale Singh, who also has the charge of Nadampur, confirmed that after July 19, they had not received any supply.

“On Wednesday, we received 1,400 MT of urea. If farmers need more, we will take up the matter with the higher authorities,” said Anil Kumar, deputy registrar of societies, Sangrur.