A deeply disturbing incident shook Shahjahanpur district on Thursday as a video emerged showing a farmer attempting suicide at a cooperative society facility. The farmer’s desperate act was reportedly triggered by his inability to acquire essential fertilizers, a critical shortage that has been plaguing the region.
The harrowing footage, believed to be from the Audapur cooperative society, depicts the farmer trying to hang himself from a ceiling fan. In an emotional plea captured on video, he accused authorities of selectively distributing fertilizer, leaving vulnerable marginal farmers like him without vital supplies. “That is why I am forced to commit suicide,” he stated. Thankfully, vigilant locals intervened and prevented him from carrying out the tragic act.
This incident is not isolated. Numerous other videos circulating online paint a grim picture of farmers enduring grueling, hours-long waits in queues, only to leave empty-handed, unable to secure either fertilizers or seeds. A farmer in Lucknow lamented, “I have been waiting for over five hours since morning, but to no avail. Artificial hoarding and black marketing are exacerbating this crisis. We are completely unaware of where the allocated fertilizer is actually going.”
The Opposition has seized upon the crisis, launching a scathing attack on the state government. They argue that despite official claims of ample fertilizer supply, farmers are being pushed to the brink. Shahnawaz Alam, national secretary of the Congress, voiced strong criticism: “Farmers across Uttar Pradesh are facing immense hardship due to the BJP government’s failed policies. The lack of timely access to fertilizers, manure, seeds, and crucial resources is devastating their crops and livelihoods. This government is clearly anti-farmer and detrimental to the poor. On one hand, ministers deny any shortage, while on the other, we see heartbreaking scenes of endless queues and farmers driven to extreme measures.”
Adding another layer to the allegations, Vijay Singh, a Lucknow-based farmer, claimed that lower-level officials in certain areas are reportedly complicit, aiding corrupt interests and black marketeers. This alleged collusion leads to artificial scarcity, inflated prices, and farmers’ genuine needs going unmet. Singh also highlighted a transnational issue: “Fertilizer meant for farmers in Uttar Pradesh is reportedly being sold at exorbitant prices in Nepal, further compounding our problems.”