Akola Farmers Block Road Over NAFED Online Portal Failure, Tehsildar Steps In

armers in Akola district protested after the NAFED online procurement process stalled, prompting the tehsildar to intervene and promise technical fixes and action within 24 hours.

Mumbai, November 1, 2025 – In Akola district of Maharashtra, farmers engaged in procurement through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) staged a road blockade after the online processing system used for registration and procurement stalled, causing delays and frustration among growers. The protest took place on a major route near the tehsil office where the district’s tehsildar immediately intervened and took charge of the meeting with farmers.

Agricultural producers said the NAFED portal had stopped accepting registrations for their produce, and payments were delayed, leading to mounting anxiety in the region. While the procurement period is still active, they claimed the breakdown of the online process prevented them from fulfilling commitments and risked their crop sales. The tehsildar arrived at the site, heard the farmers’ complaints and promised immediate escalation of the matter to the district collector and NAFED’s local office. Officials say the tehsildar has asked for a report and directed technical teams to restore the system within 24 hours.

Farmers said that many of them had arranged for transport and manpower based on the expectations set by NAFED but when the online window closed last minute, they were left with produce awaiting sale and no clarity on when they would be able to register. This disruption comes at a critical time when procurement and payments determine the viability of the upcoming season. One farmer said that the breakdown “shocked the entire village” and described the road blockade as the only way left to raise their voice.

NAFED’s regional office in Akola responded by acknowledging technical issues and attributing delays to an unexpected surge in registrations coupled with limited portal capacity. They assured that a remedial team had been called in and that tentative timelines were being reworked. Meanwhile, district officials confirmed the tehsildar will convene another meeting tomorrow with the farmers, NAFED and the agriculture department to ensure coordination and a resolution.

The blockade lasted several hours and disrupted traffic along the main route, prompting the police to assist with traffic management. Farmers said they are prepared to continue agitation if the system is not restored and satisfactory assurances given. The incident highlights the vulnerability of digital procurement platforms to technical failures and the cascading effects on small-holder farmers in regions like Akola.

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