Urea shortage threatens Kharif season in Telangana

Telangana, which ranks fifth in India for fertilizer usage with an average of 173 kg per acre, faces a supply crisis that has led to localised price hikes

Hyderabad: The State is staring at a severe urea shortage at a time when the critical Kharif activity is gaining momentum. Timely supplies will decide the fate of key crops like paddy and cotton. The State, which ranks fifth in India for fertilizer usage with an average of 173 kg per acre, faces a supply crisis that has led to localised price hikes, with some farmers paying Rs 300 to Rs 325 per 45-kg bag against the subsidised rate of Rs 266.50 to Rs 268.

The shortfall, attributed to inadequate allocations from the Central government, has left farmers anxious as they struggle to meet crop requirements. In some of the villages of Talamadugu mandal of Adilabad district, farmers are lining up in large numbers with their Aadhar cards in hand as identity proof before the fertiliser distribution centres.

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On failing to get it in required quantities, they are resorting to protests. This will not be an isolated phenomenon. Other districts, more so in the paddy growing pockets such as Nalgonda, Miryalaguda, Suryapet, Kamareddy, Nizamabad and Khammam would witness the same situation as they require adequate urea supplies as the paddy transplantation gathers pace.

The Centre allocated five lakh metric tonnes of Urea for Telangana from April to June 2025, but only 3.06 lakh metric tonnes were delivered, resulting in a deficit of 1.94 lakh metric tonnes. For July, the Centre promised 1.60 lakh metric tonnes, with 60 per cent as imported urea, but no ships have been allocated for its transportation, raising fears of further delays. This gap in supply, compounded by logistical failures, threatens to derail the Kharif season, prompting urgent calls for action from the state government.

Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao wrote to Union Ministers JP Nadda, G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, urging immediate intervention to address the crisis. In his letter, Rao requested the prompt allocation of ships to transport the 0.97 lakh metric tonnes of imported urea designated for July and an increase in domestic urea supply from the Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (RFCL) from 30,800 tonnes to 60,000 tonnes.

He also sought an additional quota to cover the April–June shortfall, emphasizing that swift action is critical to support Telangana’s farmers during this vital agricultural season.