Bathinda: Farmers held protest demonstrations across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar against the shortage of urea fertiliser and other pressing issues affecting them.
Urea Shortage and Black Marketing
Farmers are unable to obtain urea at government-fixed prices, while private dealers are allegedly indulging in black marketing in many areas, said members of the All India Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), on whose call protesters burnt effigies of the central government. "Even cooperative societies are compelling farmers to purchase nano urea and other unnecessary products along with urea. The agriculture department has failed to fulfill its responsibility in addressing this crisis," the morcha said, demanding farmers be supplied with urea according to their requirements and strict action be taken against black marketers.
Rising Costs and MSP Concerns
The farmers said the continuous increase in the prices of diesel, petrol, and cooking gas has raised both agricultural production costs and household expenses for ordinary citizens. "Despite a decline in international crude oil prices, no relief is being provided to the public. At the same time, only marginal increases are made in the minimum support price (MSP) of crops, while the prices of seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, diesel, and other essential agricultural inputs continue to rise," the farmers said.
Opposition to India-US Trade Agreement
The functionaries also opposed the proposed India-US trade agreement, calling it detrimental to Indian agriculture. They argued that such agreements would harm the interests of small and marginal farmers and further expose the sector to unfair competition.
