NAROWAL: The urea fertiliser shortage has forced women to stand in long queues to get the bags in Narowal.

Due to recent rains and the unavailability of urea fertiliser, farmers are facing severe problems.

Farmers Abdul Rahim and Mohammad Hanif said fertiliser dealers were selling urea for Rs2,500 per bag and they would issue a payment receipt of Rs1,765 to buyers in the presence of the administration officers.

They accused the officials of the district administration and the agriculture department of exploiting the situation.

Farmers Muhammad Akmal and Bashir Ahmed said that due to recent rains, the wheat crop was turning yellowish. They said that their women had also joined long queues around containers for fertilizer. They said the district administration’s behaviour towards farmers was pathetic.

Deputy Commissioner Saba Asghar said she did not know where the urea fertiliser was being sold. Farmers demanded Chief Minister Usman Buzdar take notice of the situation.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2022