Sirsa Farmers Queue for DAP Tokens as Rabi Sowing Starts, Despite Higher Stocksਰਬੀ ਬਿਜਾਈ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੁੰਦਿਆਂ ਸਿਰਸਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਡੀਏਪੀ ਲਈ ਕਿਸਾਨਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਤਾਰਾਂ, ਭੰਡਾਰ ਵੱਧ ਹੋਣ ਦੇ ਬਾਵਜੂਦ

Farmers in Haryana's Sirsa district, many of them Punjabi-speaking Sikh cultivators from the Punjab border belt, are queuing for tokens and staging sit-ins over DAP fertiliser as rabi wheat sowing begins. Yet industry data shows national and Punjab stocks are higher than last year, pointing to a distribution problem rather than a supply gap.

What happened in Sirsa and Dabwali?

The Tribune reported that chaos broke out at Sirsa's Kisan Bhawan on Wednesday, October 7, during token distribution, forcing the Agriculture Department to pause the process briefly. Farmers who missed out sat in front of an officer's vehicle demanding more tokens, and the department issued 400 additional tokens, each allowing four bags of DAP from the IFFCO centre. At Dabwali, Punjabi Tribune reported that farmers held a sit-in outside the IFFCO Bazar after only 400 of 660 bags listed for the Lohgarh cooperative society arrived, with no clear word on the other 260.

What are farmers alleging?

Farm union leaders at Dabwali alleged that unrequested pesticides worth Rs 500 were being pushed with each DAP bag priced at Rs 1,350, a practice often called tagging. They also objected that fertiliser shops were not displaying stock boards. SDM Yogesh Dilhor promised transparent distribution and ordered shopkeepers to put up and update stock boards. Bhaskar also reported fresh crowds and confusion over tokens at Sirsa on Wednesday. These are the farmers' allegations; officials have not confirmed them.

What do the stock figures say?

Business Standard reported that DAP stocks across India stood at 2.35 million tonnes on September 30, nearly 17 per cent higher than a year earlier, and that Punjab's stock, about 178,384 tonnes, was almost 18 per cent higher. The sowing season began on October 1. Stock levels in the country can look comfortable even while individual cooperative societies receive only part of their quota.

Why does it matter for Punjab's farmers?

Punjab is India's foremost wheat-producing state, and DAP is applied at sowing, so delays can push back planting. Sirsa borders Punjab and many farmers there share family and farming ties with Malwa. The Tribune noted the shortage has worried Sirsa farmers for weeks and nearly caused a road blockade on Dabwali Road twice in the past month, while the district has had no permanent Deputy Director of Agriculture for two months. Punjab-side reports of similar queues were not confirmed in sources checked for this story.

How many tokens did Sirsa issue on Wednesday?

The Agriculture Department issued 400 additional tokens, and each token lets a farmer buy four bags of DAP at the IFFCO centre.

Is there a DAP shortage in Punjab?

Business Standard's data shows Punjab's stock of about 178,384 tonnes was almost 18 per cent higher than last year as of September 30. The Sirsa and Dabwali protests are in Haryana and relate to local distribution.

What is the controlled price of DAP?

Farmers at Dabwali cited a price of Rs 1,350 per 50 kg bag. They allege some sellers add unrequested products on top of it.