Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday wrote to Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya over inadequate supply of fertilisers to the State.
He pointed out that during the month of May, June and July, there has been severe short supply of fertilisers to the State.
During the current Kharif season, the State has so far received only 1,45,145 MT of urea against the allocation 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.
The CM also wrote that 42,867 MT of MOP and 1,05,798 MT of NPKS have been supplied against the allocation of 67,200 MT and 1,68,400 and the agreed supply plan of 60,000 MT and 1,42,000 MT, respectively.
Overall the supply of urea has been 62% against the allocation and 69% against the agreed supply plan. For other fertilisers, the supply stands between 60% and 74%, he pointed out.
“The farmers in the State have suffered severe crop loss due to recent Yaas (cyclone) and several cyclonic storms during the previous years. Therefore, to optimise their production, the supply of the most critical input, i.e., fertiliser should be as per requirement,” Patnaik wrote.
He said the short supply of fertilisers would adversely affect agricultural production and unnecessarily invite law and order situation in most of the districts.
On the day, a delegation of BJD MPs met Minister Mandaviya in New Delhi and handed over a memorandum demanding supply of fertilisers to the State.
The MPs urged for the Minister’s personal intervention to ensure that the Odisha farmers are provided the required amount of fertilisers as per the monthly allocation during the ongoing Kharif season.