In protest against the ‘continuous disregard’ shown by the state and Central governments toward various issues faced by fertiliser, seed and pesticide traders, businessmen in Abohar observed a one-day token strike on Monday.They had gathered in the old grain market.Suresh Satija, president of The Abohar Pesticide and Fertilizer Dealer Association, said that the 12 demands — for which this one-day token strike is being held today at the call of the ‘All India Agro Input Dealer Association’— have been discussed with the Central and state governments on numerous occasions. However, no heed has been paid to their grievances. The association demanded increasing the dealer’s margin on fertilisers from 1.5 per cent to at least 8 per cent; ensuring the delivery of fertilisers up to the retailer’s warehouse in accordance with the Government of India’s policy; taking action against manufacturing and producing companies—rather than the traders—in cases where samples of fertilisers, seeds or pesticides fail quality tests, while involving the trader merely as a witness; restricting the seed sale scheme, currently being implemented through the ‘SATHI’ portal, solely to the producing companies; completely halting the practice of companies forcibly bundling other unnecessary products with fertilisers; and suspending the e-token system currently being implemented across the country.Association’s state secretary Rakesh Kalani urged members to inform the Union if any departmental official engages in high-handedness or harassment against a trader, so that a resolution to the issue may be found.Later, raising slogans against the Central and Punjab governments, the traders marched to the Sub Divisional Administrative Complex and submitted a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and SDM Ravinder Singh Arora. The SDM assured them that he would forward their demands to the PM Office and ensured speedy consideration.