Urea crisis deepens in Telangana amid surging demand

Telangana faces a severe urea shortage during the Kharif season, disrupting paddy, maize, and cotton cultivation. Pipeline leaks, logistical delays, and allocation shortfalls have intensified farmer distress, sparking widespread protests and allegations of black marketing across multiple districts

Hyderabad: A severe shortage of urea fertilizer has plunged Telangana’s agricultural sector into crisis, severely disrupting the ongoing Kharif season and triggering widespread protests across districts such as Mahabubabad, Hanumakonda, Siddipet, Jogulamba Gadwal, and others. Farmers, desperate for the nitrogen-based fertilizer essential for crops like paddy, maize, and cotton, are increasingly frustrated as supplies dwindle.

The release of water from major irrigation projects in the Godavari basin, including the Sriram Sagar Project (SRSP), has boosted Kharif operations. However, logistical failures and a temporary halt in production at Ramagundam Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited (RFCL) due to a pipeline leak have exacerbated the crisis, threatening a 10–15 percent drop in crop yields.

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The State government has faced heavy criticism for failing to procure urea in required quantities in advance, unlike the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regime.

Supply shortfall fuels farmer distress

Telangana’s urea requirement for the 2025 Kharif season is estimated at 10.48 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), but the Central government allocated only 9.8 LMT, with less than 6 LMT delivered between April and August — a shortfall of over 3 LMT. For August alone, the state requires 3.5 LMT but has received only 1.7 LMT.

In Mahabubabad, only 18,100 metric tonnes have been supplied against a demand of 40,500 metric tonnes, while Hanamkonda received 16,943 metric tonnes compared to 29,174 metric tonnes last year. In Jogulamba Gadwal, farmers have utilized 14,900 metric tonnes of an allocated 15,000 metric tonnes, leaving a critical shortfall.

The crisis has been intensified by a pipeline leak at RFCL, halting urea production since August 14. Repairs are underway, with production expected to resume by August 22, followed by a three-day cooling and start-up period. However, the shutdown has significantly widened the supply gap during the peak sowing period.

Delays in railway rake allocations and the absence of ships to transport 0.97 LMT of imported urea promised for July have further strained supplies.

Protests and black marketing escalate

Farmers across Telangana are staging protests and blocking highways, frustrated by long queues and limited rations, often restricted to one or two 45-kg bags per Aadhaar card. In Siddipet’s Hymadnagar, farmers accused Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS) staff of black marketing, with urea prices soaring to Rs 350–400 per bag compared to the subsidized rate of Rs 266.50.

In Jogulamba Gadwal, former Agriculture Minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy warned of large-scale protests if an additional 10,000 metric tonnes of urea were not supplied and infrastructure issues, such as the Jurala gates, were not addressed. In Siddipet’s Akbarpet-Bhoompally mandal, BRS-led demonstrations disrupted traffic on the Rajiv Highway, reflecting growing public anger.

Impact on Kharif crops

The Kharif season has seen increased cultivation, with paddy sown on more than 45 lakh acres, maize on 5.97 lakh acres, and cotton on 44.64 lakh acres. However, the urea shortage has disrupted critical growth stages, particularly paddy transplantation, which requires urea application within a week.

In Mahabubabad, only 1.16 lakh acres of the targeted 2.21 lakh acres of paddy have been planted, despite ample water from the Sriram Sagar Project and Kakatiya canal. Experts warn that continued delays could reduce yields across the region.

Political blame game

Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao accused the Centre of failing to deliver the promised 8.3 LMT of urea for April–August, resulting in a shortfall of 2.69–3 LMT. However, Union Minister Nadda and Telangana BJP leaders claim the Centre supplied 10.02 LMT for the 2024–25 Rabi season, exceeding the State’s request, and accuse the State of mismanaging distribution.

Black marketing and hoarding

Allegations of black marketing and hoarding have intensified, with farmers reporting that PACS and private dealers are diverting stocks to the black market.