Farmers’ Fury: Road Blockade Over Fertilizer Shortage-A crisis unfolds in Balod district as farmers take to the streets, protesting a severe fertilizer shortage.
The Great Blockade-Hundreds of farmers from 14 villages near Kusumkasa village in Balod district, Chhattisgarh, blocked National Highway 930 on Sunday. This dramatic action caused a major traffic jam on the Rajnandgaon–Balod–Bhanupratappur route. Frustrated by the lack of essential fertilizers, they chanted slogans demanding immediate government intervention and supply restoration. Local police and administrative officials rushed to the scene to manage the situation and negotiate with the angry protestors.
Government Policies Under Fire-Farmer leaders voiced strong criticism of the government’s agricultural policies. Former Janpad member Anil Suthar stated that the timely supply of fertilizers has been consistently failing, directly blaming the government’s ineffective strategies. He alleged that the shortage is deliberate, aiming to reduce rice production and consequently lower government procurement costs. He urged immediate action to ensure sufficient fertilizer supply to the affected farmers.
Authorities Respond to the Crisis-Following the road blockade, local authorities swung into action. SDM Suresh Sahu, DMO Saurabh Bharadwaj, and senior police officials are on-site, engaging in continuous dialogue with the farmers to resolve the issue and clear the highway. While the situation remains tense, officials assure that a solution is imminent and normalcy will be restored shortly. The government is actively working to address the farmers’ demands and find a lasting solution to the fertilizer shortage.
