Telangana farmers fear urea shortages amid brisk Kharif preparations

Urea, a nitrogen-rich fertilizer essential for paddy farming, is key to enhancing crop yields and grain quality. Farmers generally use about 100 kilograms of urea per acre during critical growth phases to optimize production. Concerns over potential shortages, particularly during the peak sowing period, are creating uncertainty among growers. 4.1-mini

Hyderabad: As Telangana farmers gear up for the Kharif sowing season, concerns over urea shortages loom large, threatening to disrupt their agricultural plans. Despite the State’s growing prominence as a key agricultural hub, producing paddy, cotton, chilli and horticultural crops, farmers are often struggling with inadequate fertilizer supplies due to periodic shortages.

Urea, a nitrogen-based fertilizer crucial for paddy cultivation, plays a vital role in boosting yields and improving grain quality. Typically, farmers apply around 100 kilograms of urea per acre of paddy at specific growth stages to maximize productivity. Fears of shortages, especially during peak sowing seasons, are fueling uncertainty among cultivators.

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Telangana’s Kharif sowing area for 2025 is projected to be 1.52 crore acres, with paddy cultivation expected to cover 66 lakh acres, representing over one-third of the total Kharif acreage. The increase in paddy production is largely driven by the hope of favourable monsoons, despite looming concerns over water availability. Farmers are increasingly opting for superfine paddy varieties, which command higher market prices compared to coarse grains.

Growing concerns over fertilizer supply

With early rains arriving and sowing operations likely to commence sooner than expected, farmers across the state are scrambling to secure urea supplies. Many cultivators in northern districts are procuring fertilizers from friends and relatives in neighboring states, fearing shortages. Despite the presence of domestic urea production hubs like Ramagundam, local farmers are also worried.

Reports suggest that Telangana has not been receiving its scheduled urea allocations from the central government thus adding to the farmers’ concerns. In response to the growing distress, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao urged union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers JP Nadda to ensure that the full quota of fertilizers allotted to the State for April and May reaches farmers by the end of the month.

According to the State government, 9.8 lakh tonnes of urea have been allocated for Telangana’s Kharif season. However, as of now, only 1.2 lakh tonnes have been supplied for April, while the May allocation stands at a mere 0.52 lakh tonnes, well below the promised 1.7 lakh tonnes for April and 1.6 lakh tonnes for May.

To mitigate the crisis, the State government has assured farmers that at least 4 lakh tonnes of urea will be positioned across districts by June 1 to facilitate smooth distribution during peak sowing.