Digital Heist in Fertiliser Distribution: Farmers Left Empty-Handed, SMS Shows ‘Fertiliser Collected’

Ashoknagar, Jan 14:
A startling case of alleged “digital fraud” has emerged from Ashoknagar district, raising serious questions over the government’s much-touted e-token fertiliser distribution system. Farmers claim they were denied fertiliser at a cooperative society despite valid tokens, only to later receive SMS notifications confirming that the fertiliser had been officially “collected” in their name.

The incident has been reported from the Dongar Cooperative Society, where farmers had booked urea through the online e-token system introduced to ensure transparency and curb black-marketing amid fertiliser shortages.

QR Code Scanned, Fertiliser Denied

Farmers Manoj Rao and Santosh Rao of Rampur Muhal village had successfully booked e-tokens for urea and received confirmation messages on their mobile phones. When they reached the government cooperative society to collect the fertiliser, the operator, identified as Ganeshram Yadav, scanned their QR codes but informed them that the stock had run out. They were asked to return after two days.

However, the shock came later. After returning home, both farmers received an SMS at around 3:45 pm stating that the fertiliser had been successfully issued to them. The message indicated “completed lifting,” even though they had not received a single bag.

More Farmers Affected

This was not an isolated case. Shivjeet Yadav, a farmer from Khirka Tanka village, also reported receiving a fertiliser collection message without actually being given any fertiliser. When farmers approached the cooperative society seeking clarification, they allegedly received vague and evasive responses.

Questions Over System Integrity

The e-token and QR-code-based system was projected as a secure, tamper-proof mechanism to ensure fertiliser reaches genuine farmers. However, the appearance of “successful delivery” messages without physical distribution points to a serious flaw—or deliberate manipulation—within the system.

Farmers allege that such loopholes are being exploited to divert fertiliser for black-marketing, while official records falsely show legal distribution. This raises concerns about possible collusion at the local level and gaps between server data and on-ground delivery.

Demand for Investigation

Affected farmers have urged the district administration to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. They fear that if immediate action is not taken, the digital distribution system could become a tool for large-scale fertiliser diversion, worsening shortages and eroding trust in government reforms.

For now, the farmers remain without fertiliser—and with nothing but an SMS as proof that the system says they received it.