Farmers staging a protest under the banner of Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha in front of the Taluk Agriculture Produce Co-operative Marketing Society office at Nehru Gunj in Kalaburagi on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI
Farmers under the banner of Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPRS) staged a protest at the Taluk Agriculture Produce Co-operative Marketing Society (TAPCMS) office near Nehru Gunj Rural Police Station in Kalaburagi on Tuesday demanding adequate supply of DAP fertiliser to all farmers and opposing the artificial shortage and price hike of fertilisers ahead of the kharif sowing season.The protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Home Minister Priyank Kharge through the Regional Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner and the Joint Director of Agriculture, Kalaburagi.ShortageAddressing the gathering at the agitation site, KPRS district president Sharanbasappa Mamshetty said that the fertiliser shortage is not natural but artificially created by traders and their agents.“Farmers are running from shop to shop with their Aadhaar cards standing in queues for two days and yet, they are being handed only two bags of DAP. This is nothing short of harassment. The State government must step in immediately and ensure every farmer gets the fertiliser he needs before the sowing season is lost,” he said.Mr. Mamshetty also warned that if the situation is not addressed urgently, the kharif crop will be severely affected, pushing farmers deeper into debt and distress.“The State government cannot remain a silent spectator while traders loot farmers. Strict action must be taken against hoarders and black market operators,” he added.Training his guns on the Union government over the steep rise in fertiliser prices, Mr. Mamshetty said that the Modi government has done away with fertiliser subsidies and price controls. And, the result is plain for all to see.“DAP has gone up to ₹1,490 from ₹1,350, Complex 10-26-26 to ₹2,250 from ₹2,025 and Complex 14-35-14 to ₹2,400 from ₹2,175. Every season, farmers are being bled dry,” he said.He pointed out the impact of global factors on domestic prices.“The war in West Asia has affected DAP supply internationally. But instead of shielding farmers from this shock, the Union government has left them to fend for themselves. This is a betrayal of the farming community,” he said and demanded that the Central government immediately restore subsidy support for Complex fertilisers.Farmers in distressMeanwhile, the KPRS has strongly condemned the nation-wide network of fertiliser traders looting farmers and pushing agriculture into deeper crisis. The organisation noted that as the sowing season begins, farmers are facing an acute shortage of fertilisers and at several places, they have been staging protests against companies and their local agents for hoarding and black market selling.“Agriculture is already in deep distress. With soaring input costs and mounting debt, each farmer family is facing an enormous financial burden. The governments – both at the Centre and in the State – which are responsible for ensuring food security and farmer welfare, must immediately withdraw policies that are squeezing the life out of the farming community,” KPRS leader Sharanappa Pujari said.Many farmers leaders, including Revanasiddappa Patil, Davu Birdar, Bhimsha Badadal and Siddu S.L., were present during the agitation. Published - June 09, 2026 07:21 pm IST
