Kalaburagi: An unusual scene unfolded in Sedam town of Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district, where farmers waiting to purchase fertilisers at a government distribution centre used their slippers to reserve places in a long queue.
The incident, which has drawn attention on social media and among local residents, highlights the growing rush among farmers to secure fertilisers ahead of the agricultural season.
Slippers mark places in queue
Hundreds of farmers from various villages reportedly arrived at the Raitha Samparka Kendra (RSK) Centre early in the morning to purchase fertilisers.
As the queue grew longer and waiting times increased, several farmers adopted an unconventional method to hold their place in line. Instead of standing continuously for hours, they left their slippers and footwear in the queue as markers while waiting nearby until their turn arrived.
Images and videos from the location showed rows of slippers arranged in line outside the fertiliser distribution centre, creating an unusual but orderly system of reserving positions.
Long wait prompts unique solution
Farmers said they had gathered at the centre from the early hours of the day to obtain fertilisers required for ongoing agricultural activities.
With hundreds of people waiting and limited space available, standing in the queue for extended periods became difficult, particularly for elderly farmers and those who had travelled long distances.
As a result, many chose to leave their footwear in line and rest nearby while keeping track of the queue’s movement.
The practice allowed farmers to avoid standing continuously under the sun while ensuring they did not lose their place in line.
Demand for fertilisers rises
The incident comes at a time when demand for fertilisers is increasing across several agricultural regions as farmers prepare for sowing activities during the monsoon season.
Agricultural inputs such as fertilisers play a crucial role in crop cultivation, prompting large numbers of farmers to visit distribution centres whenever stocks become available.
Local residents said such crowds are common during peak agricultural periods, although the sight of slippers forming a queue attracted considerable attention.
Social media users react
Photographs and videos of the unusual queue arrangement quickly circulated online, drawing a mix of amusement and concern.
While some users praised the farmers’ creativity and discipline in managing the crowd, others pointed to the incident as an indication of the challenges faced by farmers in accessing agricultural supplies.
Many remarked that the footwear queue reflected both the determination of farmers and the need for efficient distribution mechanisms during peak demand periods.
Conclusion
The sight of slippers standing in for farmers in a fertiliser queue at Sedam has become a talking point in Karnataka. While the unusual method helped farmers avoid long hours of standing, it also highlighted the heavy demand for agricultural inputs as the farming season gathers pace across the region.