Urea Sold at Double Prices in Devri, Farmers Outraged

Farmers Protest Exorbitant Urea Prices in Devri

In the town of Devri, Sagar district, a case of alleged black marketing of urea fertilizer, meant to be available at government rates, has surfaced. Farmers claim that Arihant Fertilizer, a shop located on Sahjpur Road, is selling urea at nearly double the government price, approximately 600 rupees per bag.

A video of the alleged malpractice was shared online by Ashish Koshti, a resident of Devri. Koshti stated that the shopkeeper threatened to frame him in false cases for creating and sharing the video. He has since filed a written complaint at the Devri police station.

Questions Raised Over Official Inaction

This incident also casts a shadow of doubt on the officials from the Revenue and Agriculture departments in Devri. Farmers allege that these officials conduct only superficial inspections and attempt to suppress cases of open black marketing rather than taking action.

Sources indicate that widespread black marketing of fertilizers is occurring in several shops across Devri. There are reports of hundreds and thousands of urea bags being hoarded. An intensive investigation into these shops could potentially reveal significant fraudulent activities.

Farmers Demand Action Amidst Urea Shortage

Farmers are questioning the administration about when the black marketing of fertilizers in the town will be curbed. It is also being said that the continuous directives from the Sagar Collector are being directly violated in Devri, with subordinate officers proving unable to stop this illicit trade.

Farmers lament that during this period of urea scarcity, when they are struggling to find fertilizer, some traders are still resorting to profiteering. Selling fertilizer at double the government price is a direct betrayal of farmers and amounts to stealing their hard-earned money.

Concerns Over Agricultural Impact

This incident has raised serious questions about the working of the Agriculture Department and the local administration. If such exploitation continues openly, it will directly and negatively impact farming, potentially preventing farmers from even recovering their cultivation costs.

Local farmers have demanded swift and strict action against Arihant Fertilizer and an investigation into other shopkeepers involved in this racket. They also seek assurance that government directives will be followed in the future and that fertilizer will be available to them at the fixed price.

Call for Effective Measures

The local administration needs to play an active role and take effective steps to prevent such black marketing. Merely going through the motions of inspection will not resolve the issue; only concrete action can provide relief to the farmers.