Rajasthan's rabi sowing period has brought reports of constrained DAP and urea availability, with growers covering extended distances to obtain supplies and encountering above-market prices at the point of purchase. Traders are reportedly charging Rs 2,000–2,200 for a bag of DAP whose government-set rate stands at Rs 1,350, while urea — officially pegged at Rs 266.50 per bag — is changing hands at roughly Rs 500 through unofficial channels.
In Tonk, a district known for mustard cultivation, the strain on farmers has become increasingly apparent. Gopilal Jat, a cultivator from Dodwali in the Peeplu tehsil area, described making repeated journeys into Tonk city while contending with an unpredictable supply situation. Around 18 bighas of land are worked by his family, with mustard and gram as the main crops and wheat planted on occasion.
Jat said he had managed to obtain some fertiliser from Tonk and Peeplu, though his brothers were still without supplies. A local farmer noted that many in the area set out before dawn and cover long distances to reach Tonk city in search of fertiliser, only to return home without obtaining any. Jat noted that planting time for rabi crops had arrived, yet supplies of fertiliser had not reached farmers.
Jat, who leads the Kisan Mahapanchayat at the national level, urged both central and state governments to act, citing what he characterised as shortfalls in supply, hoarding, and goods moving through unofficial channels at prices above the regulated rate. A memorandum addressed to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meena put forward the position that a shortfall in supply was hampering mustard sowing at a time when government statements had pointed to sufficient stocks being available.
Figures drawn from the state agriculture minister's account placed Rajasthan's DAP demand at 2.004 lakh tonnes as of October 1, with only 1.41 lakh tonnes on hand — a gap of 58,600 tonnes — according to Jat. Jat also drew attention to the Centre's Framework for Fertiliser Sale application, noting that farmers under the existing setup travel to authorised retail points — distances ranging from 20 to 50 kilometres in many cases, and stretching to 100 kilometres in others — only to find those locations closed or without stock upon arrival.
Among the distribution improvements he put forward were expanded reach through Gram Seva Sahakari Samitis, offline booking options, registration pathways via SMS and toll-free lines, and support for farmers obtaining their identification documents.
Demonstrations broke out across five Rajasthan districts — Tonk, Dausa, Bharatpur, Jaipur, and Kota. Naresh Meena, who heads a farmers' body in Baran, called off his ten-day fast on Sunday after district authorities provided written confirmation of their pledges to him. Objections over the shortage were also put forward by Ashok Gehlot, who previously held the position of Chief Minister.
