Looming urea shortage casts shadow on Telangana’s Kharif prospects despite monsoon boost
Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageshwara Rao is also expected to visit the capital to discuss the issue with the Union Fertilisers Minister, pressing for more domestically produced urea to compensate for import delays.
Hyderabad: As Telangana gears up for the 2025–26 Kharif season buoyed by predictions of an above-normal southwest monsoon, the State is facing a looming crisis due to a significant shortfall in urea supply. The expected expansion in cultivated areas, thanks to favourable weather and adequate reservoir levels, has intensified the demand for fertilisers, particularly urea.
However, delays in imported urea shipments and shortfalls in Central government allocations have triggered concern among farmers and State officials, potentially disrupting sowing schedules. The monsoon, forecast to be better than normal in 2025, is likely to enhance soil moisture and support timely seed germination and robust agricultural activity across the State.
With reservoirs showing considerable water levels, Telangana anticipates a sharp rise in fertiliser consumption and it is projected to exceed last year’s figures. In 2023–24, the State accounted for 5.8 per cent of India’s total urea consumption, using approximately 2.07 million metric tonnes (MMT) out of the national total of 35.78 MMT, according to Fertiliser Association of India sources.
The State also consumed 1.08 MMT of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), 0.16 MMT of muriate of potash (MOP), and 1.11 MMT of NP/NPK complex fertilisers during the same period. Fertiliser nutrient use per hectare is also expected to exceed the 139.8 kg recorded in 2023–24.
Despite the promising agricultural outlook, the State government has raised concerns over a urea supply deficit. The Centre allocated 9.8 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of urea for the Kharif season with a month-wise supply plan. However, only 2.16 LMT was delivered against the committed 3.3 LMT for April and May, leaving a shortfall of 1.14 LMT.
In April, 1.22 LMT was supplied against an allocation of 1.7 LMT, and in May, just 0.94 LMT arrived against the planned 1.6 LMT. State officials attributed the shortfall to delays in imported shipments that disrupted the delivery schedule. With the sowing season imminent, the Agriculture Department is under pressure to take proactive measures to prevent further disruptions.
The Director of Agriculture has already met officials from the Ministry of Fertilisers in New Delhi, seeking immediate redress. Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageshwara Rao is also expected to visit the capital to discuss the issue with the Union Fertilisers Minister, pressing for more domestically produced urea to compensate for import delays.
The State has requested that a larger share of June’s 1.7 LMT allocation come from domestic sources. However, only 37 per cent of that allocation is currently expected to be domestically sourced, with the remaining 67 per cent dependent on imports.
The shortfall has caused anxiety among farmers, particularly in light of the anticipated rise in urea demand owing to the expansion of paddy and maize cultivation, both fertiliser-intensive crops. The government has urged the Centre to expedite the delivery of the remaining 1.14 LMT shortfall along with June’s allocation to ensure uninterrupted fertiliser availability during the critical sowing window.
As Telangana braces for the Kharif season, resolving the urea supply crisis will be crucial. The outcome of the State government’s efforts to secure additional domestic stocks, and the Centre’s response, will determine whether farmers can fully capitalise on the favourable monsoon to secure a successful harvest.
