VEHARI, Nov 8: Growers hailing from various parts of district on Saturday protested artificial shortage of DAP fertilizer by stockists/agency holders.

A number of them complained to the district Nazim and DCO about hoarding of fertilizer bags during the last week, saying it was affecting wheat sowing.

A group of farmers of Karampur told this correspondent that the district administration had not taken any action against the dealers, who created artificial shortage every year during the wheat sowing season.

A 50kg DAP bag is currently being sold at Rs960 to Rs1,000 against the fixed price of Rs820. A farmer of Chak 198/EB said he purchased bags from Mian Chanu for Rs960 each due to shortage here.

Sources in the grain market said it was an open secret that the agency owners, who sold DAP fertilizer in wholesale to the small shopkeepers, had their godowns full of bags. However, they provided fertilizer bags to only those recommended by the district Nazim and DCO.

The owner of an agency said he had invested a huge money in stocking the DAP and was justified in earning arbitrary profit.

A district government spokesman, when contacted, claimed that drive against DAP fertilizer hoarding would start soon.