Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

Protests over fertilizer shortage in Hirekerur, Byadgi taluks

Unhappy: Farmers protesting outside the agriculture office in Hirekerur taluk in Haveri district on Monday.

HUBLI: Even as officials of the Agriculture Department maintain that steps have been taken to ensure proper supply of fertilizers, especially urea, in Haveri district, fresh protests over its scarcity were reported at Hirekerur on Monday.

Along with farmers, office-bearers of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha laid siege to the office of the Assistant Director of Agriculture and staged a protest outside it for an hour.

They alleged that the problems of farmers were being taken lightly and that the State Government was only trying to pass the buck to the Union Government.

They refused to withdraw their protest unless immediate steps were taken to provide urea. The efforts of the police to pacify the protesters went in vain. It was only after senior officials came to the venue and spoke to the farmers that they withdrew their agitation.

When contacted, Joint Director of Agriculture, Haveri division, V.M. Bhairappa said that 420 tonnes of urea was despatched to various taluks in the district on Monday.

He said the district required 7,000 tonnes of urea for the kharif season and already 5,000 tonnes had arrived.

Keeping in mind the increase in demand, another 5,000 tonnes of urea was being sent to the district. The load would arrive in two batches of 2,500 tonnes each, he added.

He clarified that arrangements had been made to ensure equitable distribution of urea in the wake of apprehensive farmers lining up before Raitha Sampark Kendras for their share of fertilizer. He said that against a target of 3.22 lakh hectares, sowing had been completed on 2.75 lakh hectares in the district. Farmers in Byadgi resorted to a “rasta roko” on Monday evening over the shortage of fertilizers. They demanded that immediate steps be taken for its supply. However, they withdrew the protest after senior officials intervened.

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