Telangana urea crisis: Farmers stage protests in Khammam, Warangal over fertilizer shortage

Farmers in Khammam and Warangal districts of Telangana protested over insufficient urea supply, facing long queues and technical issues at PACS. Artificial shortages and delayed fertilizer delivery threaten cotton and rice yields, prompting urgent calls for government intervention

Khammam/Warangal: Farmers in Telangana continue to face severe difficulties as the Congress government struggles to ensure adequate urea supply, even as the crop season advances.

On Monday, thousands of farmers in the erstwhile Khammam district and Warangal waited in long queues for hours but could not obtain urea. Protests were staged at several locations against the government’s alleged negligence.

At Gudur in Mahabubabad district, farmers held a dharna on National Highway 365, demanding urea supply. Around 1,000 farmers arrived at the local PACS at 4 am but were told that urea was unavailable, prompting them to take to the streets in protest.

Farmers waiting for urea at Thorrur in Mahabubabad district. Farmers staging protest at PACS, Tallada in Khammam district.

Local CI Surya Prakash and Agriculture Officer Abdul Malik assured farmers that steps would be taken to supply the required quantity of urea, after which the protest was withdrawn.

G Venkanna of Veleru mandal told the media that farmers were suffering under the Congress government and warned that crop yields could be affected. He added that during the previous BRS regime, such shortages were not experienced and urged the government to address the issue promptly.

In Thorrur town, farmers lined up at the PACS since morning. After waiting all day, they received only two urea bags along with a link to nano urea. Farmers including Yellaiah, Venkanna, Srinivas, Lalitha, and Yaku Uppalamma criticized the government for consistently failing to protect farmers’ interests.

At Kamalapur mandal headquarters in Hanamkonda district, farmers reported visiting the local PACS at 3 am for several days without success, expressing concerns about managing farm work while waiting for fertilizer.

Farmers at Tallada in Khammam protested at the PACS for the third time in a month, accusing officials of failing to supply urea as required. One farmer recorded a video criticizing the Congress party, alleging that promises made during elections had caused hardship for farmers.

Telangana Rythu Sangam Khammam district secretary Bonthu Rambabu told the media in Enkoor that technical issues—including faulty fingerprint machines and OTP errors—prevented thousands of farmers from obtaining urea.

He demanded that the government supply urea without conditions, emphasizing that cotton and rice crops are at a critical stage. Delays in fertilizer supply could negatively impact yields and cause financial losses.

At Burgampadu in Kothagudem district, farmers alleged that some businessmen were creating artificial shortages and selling urea illegally due to lack of supervision by Agriculture Department officials.