Expressing serious concerns over the short supply of fertilizers to the State for the ongoing Kharif season, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday urged the Centre to ensure the monthly movement supply plans as per the State requirement.
In a letter to the Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Mansukh Mandaviya, Patnaik sought his personal intervention to ensure ‘supply of fertilizers as per monthly agreed supply plan and clearance of backlog of the previous months for smooth distribution in the greater interest of the farmers.'
Patnaik stated that fertilizers should be supplied as per requirement in order to compensate the massive crop losses caused by the cyclone Yaas in the State recently.
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"As mid-July to September is the peak consumption period for urea in the State and July to August is the peak period of demand for all other fertilizers, the short supply will adversely affect the agricultural production in the State," he stated in his letter.
The short supply of the fertilizers may also lead to law and order situation in several areas in the State, the CM said.
The supply was made as per State’s requirement during April while it has been short-supplied during May, June and July, he pointed out.
"During current Kharif to till date, the State has received only 1,45,145 MT of urea against the allocation of 2,31,530 MT and agreed supply plan of 2,10,000 MT," Patnaik's letter read.
Similarly, Odisha has received 97,763 MT of DAP against the allocation of 1,52,000 MT and agreed supply plan of 1,45,000 MT during the period.
The supply of MOP and NPKS was 42,867 MT and 1,05,798 MT respectively against the allocation of 67,200 MT and 1,68,400 MT with agreed supply plan of 60,000 MT and 1,42,000 MT respectively.
The quantity of urea received by the State is 62% against the allocation and 69% against agreed supply plan, the Chief Minister stated in the letter.