Pune: The ongoing shortage of diesel supply to growers is set to impact the entire kharif season, farmers’ activists said, ahead of the crucial sowing phase of the process.
A couple of days ago, state agriculture minister Dattatray Bharne said that the fuel supply chain was disturbed due to the sudden surge in demand and assured that the farmers would get an adequate supply of diesel. Despite his assurance, farmers from various districts, particularly from Marathwada region, are complaining that they are facing hardships in procuring diesel required for tractors and other machines.
Farmers’ organisations have now warned that if the government fails to regularise supply immediately, it will have an adverse impact on the entire kharif season. Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana founder Raju Shetti said, “The monsoon arrival is around the corner and farmers will be undertaking sowing soon. The next 10-15 days are extremely important for farmers for the kharif season, but during this crucial time, they are not getting diesel. If this situation continues for another week, farmers will be facing huge losses during the season.”
The state government claimed that it has adequate stores of the fuel and has told administrations to ensure that supply is regularised. “Government should supply diesel to farmers on priority as these next two weeks are important for them. The agriculture department has the data of all the farmers and linking it with diesel supply, the government can easily monitor the fuel supply chain,” Shetti said.
Farmers’ activists warned that if diesel supply continues to remain disturbed, they will hold a statewide agitation. “The farming community has already faced huge losses in the last kharif season due to the floods in the state and now the problem of deficient rain is looming large this year. The government should take measures to ensure that farming activities are carried out smoothly for which it will have to ensure regular supply of diesel. If the supply is not regularised, farmers will have no option but to hit the ground and protest against the government,” a senior member of the All India Kisan Sabha said.
Indapur Farmers Protest Over Water Quota
In a related development, farmers from Indapur tehsils of Pune district held an agitation at the irrigation department’s office in Pune city on Monday, protesting against inadequate water supply.
Agriculture minister Bharne, who represents Indapur assembly constituency, met the protesting farmers and supported their demand. Bharne said, “Indapur is facing a water shortage due to the mismanagement by the irrigation department. They should have released the sanctioned quota of water from the Khadakwasla canal system. I have spoken to the officials and they have assured of increasing the water release.”
Former MLA and NCP (SP) member Harshvardhan Patil also joined the protest in Pune. “Indapur had never faced such a problem in the past. However, due to the irrigation department’s mismanagement, the crops in the tehsils are damaged due to lack of adequate water supply,” Patil said.
