More than 200 farmers from five villages staged a road blockade outside the seed storage centre of the Agriculture Department at Dolugaon in Kailashahar under the Unakoti District, after a storekeeper allegedly refused to distribute subsidised fertilisers despite available stocks, prompting departmental intervention and the eventual distribution of 50 kg to each farmer present.
Key Takeaways
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More than 200 farmers from five villages protested after the storekeeper allegedly gave different reasons for refusing to distribute subsidised fertilisers.
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The Agriculture Department’s superintendent intervened, following which the farmers withdrew the road blockade and received 50 kg of fertiliser each.
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Farmers accused the storekeeper of withholding agricultural supplies and alleged that the fertilisers might have been intended for sale to traders, a claim that remains unverified.
Farmers in Dolugaon, staged a protest and blocked the Kailashahar-Fatikroy road after an Agriculture Department storekeeper allegedly refused to provide subsidised fertilisers. The farmers withdrew the blockade after the department’s superintendent intervened and assured them of distribution. According to the farmers, each person present subsequently received 50 kg of fertiliser. The incident has also triggered allegations that the storekeeper withheld government-supplied agricultural materials over the past year.
The farmers blocked the Kailashahar-Fatikroy road in front of the department’s agricultural seed storage centre. They also locked the office with the storekeeper inside as their protest intensified.
The blockade continued for a considerable period. The situation eased only after the Agriculture Department’s superintendent arrived from the town and held discussions with the protesting farmers.
The farmers withdrew their protest after the official assured them that the department would distribute the fertilisers. They later said that each farmer present received 50 kg of fertiliser.
The incident has raised serious allegations against the storekeeper and questions about the distribution of government-subsidised agricultural supplies.
Farmers From Five Villages Seek Subsidised Fertilisers
The agricultural seed storage centre stands in the Dolugaon market area of Kailashahar. Most residents of the surrounding villages depend on farming for their livelihood.
Every year, farmers from the neighbouring villages visit the centre to obtain fertilisers at subsidised rates. This year, farmers from Jagannathpur, Bilashpur, Pechardahar, Telia and Balehar arrived at the facility to collect their supplies.
However, their visit reportedly ended in a confrontation with the storekeeper.
According to the farmers, the storekeeper initially claimed that the centre had no fertiliser in stock. He later said they could not collect the supplies through the existing process and would have to submit online applications.
The storekeeper reportedly gave another reason for refusing distribution. He allegedly told the farmers that those who did not own land in their names would not receive fertilisers.
The farmers grew angry after hearing these explanations. They questioned the refusal and demanded access to the fertilisers they had come to collect.
Road Blockade Forces Departmental Intervention
The agitated farmers then locked the office, keeping the storekeeper inside, and launched a road blockade outside the centre.
Their protest brought attention to the dispute and disrupted traffic along the Kailashahar-Fatikroy road.
After learning about the blockade, the Agriculture Department’s superintendent reached the spot from the town. The official held discussions with the farmers and assured them that the fertilisers would be distributed.
The farmers accepted the assurance and withdrew the blockade.
They subsequently reported that the department had distributed 50 kg of fertiliser to each farmer present at the centre.
The farmers alleged that the storekeeper had initially refused to distribute the supplies even though fertilisers remained inside the store. They said they could not understand the reason behind his conduct.
Farmers Allege Withholding of Government Supplies
The dispute has also prompted allegations about the handling of agricultural materials supplied by the government.
The farmers claimed that the storekeeper had withheld various agricultural items provided through the Agriculture Department over the past year instead of distributing them to the intended beneficiaries.
They further suspected that the refusal to distribute fertilisers might have been an attempt to sell the government-subsidised supplies to traders in the open market.
However, the alleged intention to divert the fertilisers has not been independently established. The allegations against the storekeeper also remain unverified.
No Official Comment on Possible Action
The incident has raised questions about whether the higher authorities of the Agriculture Department will investigate the allegations and take action against those responsible.
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However, neither the storekeeper concerned nor any Agriculture Department official agreed to comment to reporters on the matter.
The farmers maintained that the department distributed the fertilisers only after their protest and road blockade put pressure on the authorities.
The incident has highlighted concerns among farmers in the Dolugaon area over access to subsidised fertilisers and the distribution of government-provided agricultural supplies. Whether the department will take further action over the allegations remains to be seen.
