Telangana Has 1.46LMT Urea Buffer Stocks, Ensure 1.50LMT by May-End: Agri Minister Tummala
The minister issued the directions while reviewing urea supply, stocks and promotion of nano urea with representatives of fertiliser companies and agriculture department officials.
Hyderabad:Agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao on Monday directed officials to ensure that at least 3 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of urea buffer stock is maintained by the end of May to meet the requirements of the upcoming kharif season. The minister issued the directions while reviewing urea supply, stocks and promotion of nano urea with representatives of fertiliser companies and agriculture department officials.
The minister said the state held a buffer stock of 1.46 LMT urea along with around 10,000 metric tonnes of DAP and complex fertilisers. He noted that the state government had sought an allocation of 11.5 LMT of urea for the kharif season from the Centre, which had allotted only 10 LMT.
According to the Centre’s allocation schedule, the state is expected to receive 2 LMT each in April, May and June, 1.5 LMT each in July and August, and 1 LMT in September. Officials informed that against the allocation of 2 LMT for April, the state had received 1.53 LMT, and only 48,985 metric tonnes had been supplied so far in May.
With paddy transplantation likely to begin in the first week of June, the minister instructed officials to ensure adequate stocks by the end of this month and expedite transportation of the pending urea allocations from the Centre. He also demanded that at least 90 per cent of the urea produced at the Ramagundam Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited be allocated to Telangana. Stating that it was unfair for Telangana farmers to face shortages despite the fertiliser being produced within the state using local resources, he directed officials to write to the managing director of the Ramagundam fertiliser plant on the issue.
The minister warned fertiliser companies that had failed to supply allocated quantities last month to immediately dispatch the pending stocks along with the current month’s quota. He stressed that there should be no delays in moving urea from rake points to districts and warned of stringent action against negligence in handling and transportation. He also cautioned wholesalers and retailers against selling fertilisers above the Maximum Retail Price (MRP), stating that strict action would be taken against violators.
Referring to technological initiatives, the minister said the Union government was introducing a new app for distribution of subsidised fertilisers by taking inspiration from Telangana’s fertiliser app. The new app will be implemented experimentally from May 21 in two districts of every state across the country. In Telangana, the pilot project will be taken up in Rangareddy and Medchal–Malkajgiri districts.
The minister also called for extensive awareness campaigns on the use of nano urea and urged manufacturing companies to actively participate in educating farmers. He suggested documenting the experiences of farmers using nano urea in video format and broadcasting them through the “Rythu Nestham” programme. Representatives of fertiliser companies were asked to participate in the weekly Tuesday programme and explain the harmful effects of excessive conventional urea usage and the benefits of nano urea.
Seeking support for sustainable farming, the minister urged the Centre to announce special incentives for promotion of organic farming. He appealed to farmers to reduce excessive use of urea and adopt alternative methods, warning that overuse of chemical fertilisers could damage soil fertility and reduce crop yields in the future. He advised farmers to conduct soil tests and use fertilisers only according to soil health recommendations to protect long-term productivity.
