Bhopal: A 45-year-old farmer has died by suicide by consuming poison in Madhya Pradesh, which is hit by an acute fertiliser crisis. The deceased farmer has been identified as Dhanpal Yadav a native of Paprol village in Ashok Nagar district. He took his own life after failing to procure Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser for his crop. Family members said he failed to procure fertiliser despite waiting for several days.
Madhya Pradesh is facing an acute DAP fertiliser crisis with all the 3,400 cooperative societies across the state running out of stock. Farmers have blocked roads in Bhind, Morena, Ashok Nagar, Satna and other districts several times in the last 2 weeks, demanding the immediate release of more DAP fertiliser. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh said the crisis would soon be over as more fertiliser is being bought. “DAP is brought from outside the country and at times there are certain delays. We are looking into it and the crisis will be over soon,” he said.
The ruling BJP has also alleged that the opposition Congress is trying to fuel unrest among farmers and that a big issue is being made out of a small crisis. The Congress, while reacting to the BJP’s allegation, has claimed that DAP fertiliser was never made in Madhya Pradesh and that they had foreseen the crisis when the party was in power in 2019 and had arranged for the same in advance. Close to 25 districts immediately require DAP for the Rabi crops and farmers in these districts are reeling under uncertainty.