Farmers in the rural areas of Ladania block in Madhubani district are facing significant difficulties in purchasing fertilizers. The Agricultural Department's new online and Aadhaar-based system for fertilizer sales, implemented to curb black marketing, is now creating hurdles for many farmers due to technical and documentation issues.

A major problem affects farmers whose land records (Jamabandi) are not yet in their names. Many small and marginal farmers in rural areas cultivate ancestral lands still officially registered under their forefathers' names. These farmers are struggling to obtain a Farmer ID, which is mandatory for purchasing subsidized fertilizers under the new system. Farmers report cultivating these lands for years, but due to pending land mutation (Dakhil-Kharij), their identity cannot be registered online, delaying fertilizer access and forcing them to visit government offices repeatedly.

Even farmers who have obtained a Farmer ID are apprehensive about the online process. They are wary of sharing the One-Time Password (OTP) received on their mobile phones during fertilizer purchases. Concerns about increasing cyber fraud in rural areas make many farmers hesitant to disclose the OTP to vendors, fearing potential bank account fraud.

The mandatory online procedure and document requirements have led to overcrowding at fertilizer shops in the block. Farmers are waiting for hours, while vendors cite departmental instructions, refusing to dispense fertilizers without completing the prescribed online process. Farmers are urging the administration and the agricultural department to simplify the rules, resolve issues in obtaining Farmer IDs, and ensure transparency and convenience in fertilizer distribution. They emphasize that a lack of timely fertilizer during crucial crop stages will directly impact agricultural output.