Scuffle for urea among farmers in Khammam; Several wait in long queues braving cold

A scuffle broke out among women farmers waiting for urea at a fertiliser centre in Khammam district as long queues formed amid cold weather. Similar scenes were reported from parts of Warangal, even as officials claimed adequate urea stocks were available.

Khammam/Warangal: A scuffle broke out among women farmers who lined up for urea at the Konijerla mandal headquarters in Khammam on Wednesday.

Due to cultivation of maize extensively in the mandal, a large number of farmers from several villages had gathered at the local Gromor centre since 3 am, braving cold weather conditions. A few women had a scuffle over their place in the queue following which police personnel reached the spot to maintain order.

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Several farmers complained that despite the claims by Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao, farmers were forced to face hardships for urea. Women and aged farmers were compelled to line up early in the morning in cold weather for urea, they said.

Khammam district Collector Anudeep Durishetty on Tuesday stated that 10,088 metric tons of urea stocks had arrived so far while there was a reserve stock of 4,300 metric tons in the district. Thus currently 14,388 metric tons of urea was available and farmers need not worry, he said.

He further stated that until the urea booking app was launched in Khammam district, urea was being distributed through the offline method after verifying the farmer’s patta passbook. Urea was being supplied through 82 PACS centres and 84 private dealers in the district.

A large number of farmers were seen waiting at Upparapalli village of Chennaraopet mandal in Warangal district in the severe cold since early hours in the day at the local Rythu Vedika. Similar situations were witnessed in several mandals in the district for the past few days.