Fertiliser Shortage May Fuel Law & Order Problem In Odisha, CM Naveen Patnaik Warns Centre

Bhubaneswar: A day after farmers in Odisha agitated over shortage of fertilisers, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday wrote to Union Fertiliser Minister Mansukh Mandviya to augment supply to the state as per the approved plan.

The CM also warned that shortage of fertilizer in Odisha will affect agricultural production and may lead to law and order situation in many districts,

Naveen therefore urged the Centre to release the pending monthly quota of fertilisers to Odisha at the earliest possible.

In his letter to Mandaviya, the CM wrote, “As mid-July to September is the peak consumption period for urea in Odisha and July to August is the peak period of demand for all other fertilisers, the short supply of fertilisers to the state at this juncture will adversely affect the agricultural production in the state and unnecessarily invite law and order situation in most of the districts.”

Naveen informed the Union Minister that Odisha has received short supply of fertilisers during the months of May, June and July.

He further said during this Kharif season, the state has received only 1,45,145 metric tons (MT) of urea as against the allocated of 2,31,530 MT and the agreed supply plan of 2,10,000 MT.

Besides, the state has received 97,763 MT of DAP against the allocation of 1,52,000 MT and the agreed supply plan of 1,45,000 MT during the period. The Centre has supplied 42,867 MT of Muriate of Potash (MOP) and 1,05,798 MT of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) against the allocation of 67,200 MT and 1,68,400 and agreed supply plan of 60,000 MT and 1,42,000 MT respectively.

The overall supply of urea has been 62% against the allocation and 69% against the agreed supply plan, while for other fertilizers it is 60% to 74%, Naveen pointed out.

He stated that Odisha farmers have suffered crop loss due to severe cyclonic storm Yaas and several cyclones during the previous years. The Centre should supply fertilizers to Odisha as per the requirement to optimise production, he added.

The CM requested the Union Minister to personally intervene in the matter for the smooth distribution of fertilisers in the greater interest of the farmers.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the BJD MPs met the Union Minister at his chamber in New Delhi in the morning handed over a memorandum demanding the supply of fertilizers for the farmers of Odisha.

The Union Minister immediately spoke to the ministry officials and advised them to do the needful at the earliest.