Farmers stay awake overnight in freezing cold:Protest erupts over fertiliser shortages; authorities insist that urea supplies are adequate across districts

Guna farmers are facing serious problems getting fertilizer. At centers like the double lock godown in Bageri, Bamori, and Nanakhedi Mandi in Guna city, farmers are forced to stay overnight under the open sky. They arrive at night, set up makeshift camps, and sleep on beds laid in rows. Despite this, agriculture department officials say there is no shortage and that fertilizer supply is ongoing. Dainik Bhaskar’s team visited Nanakhedi Mandi’s double lock godown at 2 AM on Tuesday. More than 100 farmers were found sleeping outdoors. Some were warming themselves around bonfires, while others used tarpaulins to cover themselves against the cold, discussing their struggles to get fertilizer. ‘Have been here since 5 PM yesterday, lying hungry and thirsty’
Deep Mala, a woman from Khejra Baba, said that she has come to get fertilizer since 5 PM yesterday. She has ten bighas of land and currently needs ten sacks of fertilizer, but has not received a token yet. They are lying here hungry and thirsty. ‘If there was fertilizer, why would we have been lying here for 4 days?’
Responding to the administration’s claim of ample fertilizer, a woman farmer said, “If there was fertilizer, we wouldn’t have to lie here for three-four days. Even standing in line here is a struggle. If fertilizer was available in every village, why would people be here? Only 20-25 people get fertilizer, and then it stops. Who is listening to the public? No one is listening.” Camping overnight to hold a spot in line
The situation looked worst on Tuesday night. Farmers were seen sleeping on the ground, laying out mats in lines, right in the double lock godown’s field. A large number of women were also forced to sleep in the open. Farmers say that if they don’t reserve their spots now, they won’t be able to get in line in the morning and won’t get fertilizer. ‘We wake up at 3 AM and come, still don’t get it’
A farmer from Simrod village said that only if they come at night, will they get fertilizer in the morning. If they come in the morning, the queue will be long. They have been coming continuously for two days, yet they are unable to get fertilizer. They need 30 sacks. Meanwhile, a woman from Ambaram Chakk said that she has been coming for the past four days. She was waking up at 3 AM and coming, but still couldn’t get fertilizer. That’s why she has stayed here tonight. Deputy Director Agriculture said – Don’t worry, a rake is coming
Meanwhile, Deputy Director Agriculture Sanjeev Sharma claims that there is sufficient fertilizer in the district. He said in a video message, “Right now, you don’t need to worry about urea. We are receiving 25 to 30 trucks of urea from NFL. One more rake is about to arrive. We have sent fertilizer to double lock centers as well as societies.” Counters increased in Bageri
Sharma said, “As per the Collector’s instructions, efforts have been made to improve the arrangements at the Bageri center. Earlier, there were two counters there, now three counters have been added. The arrangements there have improved compared to before. Farmers should take fertilizer in turns. Each person is being provided ten sacks of fertilizer according to their land.” See the farmers’ problems in pictures