Hans News Service Haveri

Farmersin Haveri district are facing severe hardship at the beginning of the monsoon season as shortages of sowing seeds and diesel have triggered chaos across several parts of the region. The situation has led to growing anger among farmers against the Agriculture Department and district administration.

While farmers are spending sleepless nights outside agriculture centres to secure soybean and groundnut seeds, tractor owners and cultivators are also struggling to obtain diesel required for land preparation activities.

At the agriculture centre in Tevaramellihalli village of Savanur taluk, hundreds of farmers have been waiting in long queues for the past two days to obtain sowing seeds. Farmers alleged that repeated network failures and delays by agriculture department officials are preventing timely distribution of seeds during the crucial sowing season.

Fearing that seed stocks may run out before their turn arrives, several farmers were forced to stay overnight outside the centre. Many were seen sleeping on the roadside and waiting through the night in hopes of receiving seeds early in the morning.

The rush for seeds has resulted in heavy crowding and confusion at multiple centres across the district. Frustrated farmers accused the administration of failing to make adequate arrangements despite the onset of the monsoon season being predictable.

“We are wasting entire days standing in queues. If sowing is delayed, our crops and livelihood will suffer,” farmers complained while demanding immediate intervention from the government.

Alongside the seed crisis, farmers are also facing an acute diesel shortage. Fuel prices have reportedly increased for the third time within just ten days, further adding to the burden on cultivators already struggling with rising agricultural costs.

The diesel shortage has particularly affected tractor operations needed for ploughing and land preparation. At several petrol bunks on the outskirts of Haveri, long queues of tractors and farmers carrying fuel cans were witnessed throughout the day.

Farmers alleged that many fuel stations are refusing to fill diesel in cans due to limited supply. As a result, even those willing to pay are unable to procure sufficient fuel for agricultural operations.

The twin crises of seed shortages and diesel scarcity have created panic among farmers who fear losing valuable time during the sowing period. Many cultivators expressed helplessness and questioned how they could continue farming if essential agricultural inputs were unavailable during the most critical phase of cultivation.

The situation has sparked widespread resentment, with farmers urging the state government and district administration to immediately ensure adequate supply of seeds and fuel to avoid disruption to monsoon farming activities.