Haveri: Hundreds of farmers rushed to the Raitha Samparka Kendra in front of the assistant director of agriculture's office on Thursday and Friday to collect sowing seeds as the monsoon season began. However, delays in the distribution of soybean and groundnut seeds led to long queues, tension, and police intervention.
Farmers Wait for Hours
Farmers stood in line from early morning and reported waiting from 6 a.m. The lack of proper arrangements resulted in pushing and shoving at the site. Police arrived as the situation became tense. Farmers expressed anger against the agriculture department, stating that sowing should have started a week ago, but the department failed to distribute seeds on time.
Fertiliser Issues
Farmers also expressed dissatisfaction with the distribution of urea fertiliser after officials stated that only one bag of urea per acre would be provided. They said more fertilisers would be needed if the rains increased, and crops would not grow properly. Farmers also accused shopkeepers of linking unnecessary items during fertiliser purchases, forcing them to buy other products.
Supply Details
Subsidised seeds were supplied at the Raitha Sampark Kendras in Karjagi, Haveri, Guttal, Negalur, Hosaritti, and Marol. The taluk had a stock of 950 quintals of soybean, 215.36 quintals of maize, 114.90 quintals of pigeon pea, 9.20 quintals of green gram, and 101.10 quintals of groundnut. There was also a stock of 1,663 metric tons of urea, 789 metric tons of DAP, 130 tons of MOP, 2,688 tons of NPK, and 138 tons of SSP fertilisers.
Official Response
The assistant director of agriculture, Veerabhadrappa B.H., stated that seed and fertiliser stocks will be supplied in phases according to farmers' demands.
