Telangana farmers face long queues amid urea shortage in Mahabubabad, Warangal

Telangana farmers faced long queues and tensions over a severe urea shortage in Mahabubabad and Warangal. Limited stocks, black marketing complaints, and disputes during distribution have heightened frustration, prompting police intervention and government scrutiny of private fertilizer shops

Mahabubabad: An acute shortage of urea forced farmers, both men and women, to stand in long queues at the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS) warehouse in Mahabubabad on Tuesday, despite heavy rainfall.

Many farmers complained that they were unable to obtain urea even after waiting for hours in queues stretching nearly a kilometre. Those who did receive urea were given only one or two bags, insufficient for their crop needs.

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Speaking to the media, Ranganna, a farmer from Nadiwada, said farmers cultivating paddy, maize, and cotton have been roaming office to office for days in search of urea. “Slips were being issued to farmers, but the fertilizer itself was not provided,” he said.

He urged the government to respond immediately to the crisis and ensure adequate urea supply for all farmers. “The Congress government has brought back the olden days when farmers had to stand in long queues for hours to get urea. Such a situation never occurred under the previous BRS regime,” he added.

Amid heavy police bandobust, authorities distributed nearly 888 bags of urea to farmers. Officials informed farmers who did not receive urea to return when new stocks arrive. Over 1,500 slips were reportedly issued by PACS staff on the day.

Meanwhile, at Parvathagiri mandal headquarters in Warangal district, mild tension prevailed during urea distribution. As news spread that 450 urea bags had arrived at the local PACS, a large number of farmers flocked to the office.

Arguments broke out among farmers eager to get the bags first, leading to jostling. The police intervened to control the situation, and distribution continued under supervision.

During ongoing protests over urea shortages at shops, Warangal District Collector Satya Sharada, along with agricultural officials, inspected private fertilizer shops at Rayaparthi and Mylaram. Farmers complained that shopkeepers were linking urea sales with purchases of other fertilizers, further aggravating the crisis.