Centre’s discrimination in urea supplies sparks outrage in Telangana

Telangana is facing a severe urea shortage during the peak Kharif season, with farmers staging protests across districts. While Andhra Pradesh received fresh allocations, Telangana’s pleas remain ignored, fuelling black marketing as demand soars amid record paddy cultivation

Hyderabad: The Union government’s discrimination against Telangana has once again come to the fore, with priority allocation of urea to Andhra Pradesh ignoring the plight of Telangana farmers, who have been agitating for adequate supplies.

While farmers in Telangana are facing a severe urea shortage during the critical Kharif season, Andhra Pradesh received clearance from the Centre for an additional 10,350 metric tonnes of urea, with a promise of 30,000 more in September. This was confirmed by Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister K Achannaidu.

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Meanwhile, Telangana’s repeated requests for adequate supply have been overlooked. Farmers across the State have taken to the streets, blocking highways and staging protests in districts such as Gadwal, Sircilla, and Mahabubabad. Reports of black marketing have surfaced, with urea bags being sold at Rs 350–Rs 400, well above the subsidised rate of Rs 266.50.

Telangana’s BJP MPs, including two Union Ministers, have been unable to secure sufficient supplies for the State’s farmers during this crucial season. The Congress-led State government has also faced criticism for failing to address the crisis effectively. Bharat Rashtra Samithi senior leader T Harish Rao accused both the Centre and the State of engaging in “political drama” at the expense of farmers. While the Centre claims there is adequate supply, the State blames the Centre. Farmers, however, are caught in the middle—queuing for hours and often returning empty-handed.

Official data reveals that Telangana was allocated 8.30 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of urea for the Kharif season (April–August 2025), but only 5.62 LMT has been supplied, resulting in a shortfall of 2.69–3 LMT. The State’s urea demand has surged to 10.48 LMT this season, driven by a record increase in paddy cultivation, with sown acreage rising to 54.79 lakh acres from 31.6 lakh acres last year.