Naveen Writes To Centre On Short Supply Of Fertilisers For Kharif Season

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday requested the Centre to ensure supply of fertilisers to Odisha as per the monthly plan including the backlog of previous months for smooth distribution among the farmers for ensuing kharif season.

In a letter to Union Minister of Fertilisers and Chemicals Mansukh Mandaviya, the chief minister said though Odisha has received urea as per requirement till July-end, there has been a severe shortfall of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and muriate of potash (MOP) against the requirement.

During the current kharif season, as on July 31, the overall availability of DAP has been 69% against the pro rata requirement with a shortfall of 46,877 tonne. Similarly, the supply of MOP to the state has fallen short by 1,010 tonne.

While 94,000 tonne of DAP have been supplied against requirement of 1,55,000 tonne, 48,469 tonne of MOP supplied against the quota of 60,000 tonne to the state till end of July.

Naveen further said there is a huge demand for these fertilizers as there has been a good spell of monsoon after a dry spell which has led the agricultural operations to a full swing. The state has suffered a loss in crop production during the previous year due to natural calamities like YAAS, JAWAD and GULAB.

He said the state hoped to make good the loss with a good harvest expecting a near normal monsoon in line with the forecast of India Meteorological Department (IMD). Therefore, supply of this most critical input for the farming sector should be as per the requirement. Besides, August-September period happens to be the peak demand period for different fertilizers and a short supply during this juncture would adversely affect the agricultural production in the state, Naveen said.

He requested personal intervention of the Union Minister to ensure supply of the fertilizers to the state as per monthly requirement including the backlog of the previous months in the greater interest of the farmers.