The Farmer Who Feeds the Nation… But Can’t Get Fertilizer?
The food grown by farmers feeds the entire country. But when that very farmer has to stand in a queue for hours just to receive a single bag of urea—and ultimately loses her life should it be called an unfortunate incident or a failure of the system?
A tragic incident at the Farmer Service Centre (RSK) in Peddalavunipalli village of Nandigam Mandal, Tekkali constituency in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district has triggered widespread concern across the state. The incident has attracted additional attention as it occurred in the constituency represented by Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu.
70-Year-Old Woman Farmer Dies After Collecting Urea
According to reports, Pinakana Kanthamma (70) reached the Farmer Service Centre along with her daughter after learning that urea fertilizer was being distributed there.
To obtain a single bag of urea, farmers reportedly had to go through several stages:
- Collect a distribution slip
- Register through the Rythu App
- Complete biometric authentication
- Make the payment
- Finally receive the fertilizer bag
Kanthamma reportedly waited for several hours inside the centre before completing the process.
Shortly after receiving her bag of urea and walking outside, she suddenly collapsed.
Local farmers immediately alerted the 108 ambulance service, and she was rushed to a hospital. However, she reportedly died on the way.
Farmers Allege Poor Conditions Inside the Centre
Following the incident, farmers present at the centre expressed deep anguish.
They alleged that:
- Hundreds of farmers were made to wait inside a single room.
- Long waiting hours caused severe inconvenience.
- The overcrowded conditions made it difficult even to breathe.
- No separate arrangements were made for elderly farmers, women, or those with health issues.
The incident has intensified criticism over crowd management and basic facilities at fertilizer distribution centres.
Rythu App: Convenience for Farmers or Another Burden?
The government has stated that fertilizer distribution through the Rythu App is aimed at ensuring transparency.
However, many farmers claim that the ground reality is quite different.
The entire process including registration, biometric verification, payment, and confirmation often takes hours to complete.
Farmers’ organizations argue that technology should make life easier for farmers, not create additional hardships, especially for elderly citizens.
From Rythu Bharosa Kendras to Farmer Service Centres: What Has Changed?
The incident has also revived political debate over previous and current agricultural support systems.
Leaders of the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) say that during the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government, Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) were established in villages to ensure farmers had local access to seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides.
They also point to initiatives such as:
- Procurement support from sowing to harvest
- Price Stabilization Fund
- Crop insurance
- Minimum Support Price (MSP) support
- Expanded farmer services
According to them, these measures provided greater convenience to farmers.
Why Are Farmers Standing in Long Queues for Urea?
Opposition leaders have questioned why farmers are still being forced to wait for hours to receive fertilizers.
They argue that while governments should ensure timely supply of agricultural inputs, many farmers continue to struggle for basic necessities during the cultivation season.
Critics have also alleged that fertilizer distribution has become unnecessarily complicated despite technological advancements.
Questions Being Raised About Agricultural Priorities
The incident has prompted critics to question the government’s priorities.
Among the questions being raised are:
- Is the agriculture sector receiving adequate attention?
- Why are farmers facing difficulties in obtaining essential fertilizers?
- Are enough measures being taken to support food producers during the cultivation season?
- Should greater emphasis be placed on improving agricultural infrastructure and service delivery?
These questions have become part of the larger public debate following Kanthamma’s death.
Support for Farmers vs Other Policy Priorities
Opposition leaders have also compared the government’s attention toward agriculture with other sectors.
They argue that while governments often respond quickly to issues concerning entertainment or other industries, farmers continue to struggle for timely access to fertilizers, fair prices, and essential services.
They insist that ensuring the welfare of food producers should remain a top priority.
Who Will Speak for Farmers?
Several farmer groups and opposition leaders have questioned why there has not been stronger public outrage over the hardships faced by farmers.
They say the incident reflects the larger challenges confronting the agricultural community and have called for greater sensitivity toward farmers’ concerns.
One Tragic Death, Many Unanswered Questions
The death of Pinakana Kanthamma has become more than a personal tragedy. It has once again highlighted the difficulties many farmers face while accessing essential agricultural inputs.
If a farmer has to spend hours in queues for a single bag of fertilizer, the incident inevitably raises questions about the efficiency of the distribution system and the adequacy of facilities provided to farmers.
However, the exact medical cause of Kanthamma’s death can only be established through the official postmortem report and the findings of the authorities’ investigation.
Meanwhile, farmer organizations and opposition parties are demanding a comprehensive review of fertilizer distribution procedures, the functioning of Farmer Service Centres, crowd management practices, and the facilities available for elderly and vulnerable farmers to prevent similar incidents in the future.
