Araria Farmers Suffer: Urea-DAP Black Marketing Soars, Prices Skyrocket

• Farmers in Araria, Bihar, face severe distress due to black marketing and shortage of chemical fertilizers, especially DAP and Urea.
• DAP, with a government rate of Rs 1300, is being sold for Rs 1700-1800 in local markets, while Urea is also sold at inflated prices.
• Middlemen divert fertilizer stock meant for farmers, leading to artificial scarcity and higher prices.
• Farmers, like Diwakar Thakur, are forced to buy at exorbitant rates, often without receipts, as sellers claim unavailability at government prices.
• Agriculture officials acknowledge demand exceeds supply, advising farmers to consider organic alternatives.