Farmers warn of protests over fertilizer shortage; claims black market sales

SKM said it would launch protests against rising prices and black marketing of urea, diesel and cooking gas. Representative file image. | Photo credit: NAGARA GOPAL

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organization of about 500 farmers’ associations, has warned that it will launch protests if the Union government does not ensure adequate supply of fertilizers for the kharif crops. Speaking to reporters after the national council meeting here on Wednesday (June 17, 2026), SKM officials said that in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, farmers are already facing shortages and fertilizer is being sold in the black market.

“In Bihar, farmers demanding fertilizers were attacked by the police,” they said and asked the government to ensure adequate supply to avoid any unacceptable situation. “The government says it will ensure adequate supply, but the situation on the ground is different,” they said, adding that SKM would launch protests against price hike and black marketing of urea, diesel and cooking gas.

SKM also warned the Narendra Modi government against signing a free trade agreement with the United States. SKM has asked the farmers to prepare for a massive protest the very next day if the Union government signs the India-US FTA.

Law on the Minimum Support Price

The meeting also decided to step up efforts to get the Union government to enact a statutory minimum support price bill on the MS Swaminathan Committee formula to ensure assured procurement. The leaders also demanded that various free trade agreements be scrapped and a complete loan waiver be announced for farmers. The meeting reiterated the demand for rural employment guarantees of 200 days of work per year at a wage of ₹600 and raising the minimum wage of casual migrant workers to ₹26,000.

SKM’s all-India conference scheduled for July 28 will announce the next phase of the campaign. “SKM will coordinate with all other sections, including laborers, agricultural workers, students, youth and others fighting against anti-people policies to extend mutual support and solidarity and build broad unity among working people,” the statement added. A National Convention of Workers and Farmers will be held in Delhi on July 29, which will include central unions.

The meeting passed a resolution supporting the demands of the student movements for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the NEET (UG) paper leak.

Published – 17 Jun 2026 23:06 IST