Fertiliser scarcity sparks political row in Odisha: LoP Naveen Patnaik writes to Centre, Minister denies shortage

The ongoing alleged shortage of urea fertiliser in Odisha has triggered a sharp political exchange, with BJD chief and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik urging the Centre to intervene immediately, calling the situation a “crisis.”

In a letter dated August 29 to Union Minister JP Nadda, Patnaik expressed deep concern over the scarcity of urea, warning that continued delays could disrupt crop production and severely impact farmers’ livelihoods.

Highlighting that agriculture sustains over 70% of Odisha’s population, Patnaik condemned rising cases of black marketing and fertiliser adulteration, particularly in tribal districts, where angry farmers have launched protests over non-availability.

Patnaik also criticised supply chain mismanagement, alleging that MARKFED, the state’s authorised distributor, has been diverting subsidised fertilisers to private traders instead of delivering them to farmers. He demanded immediate steps for adequate urea supply and called for strict action against black marketers and officials responsible for mismanagement.

Odisha Government Counters Allegations

The Centre, represented by Odisha Food Suppliers Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, rejected the allegations, claiming there is no shortage of fertiliser in Odisha. The minister stated that wherever supply issues arose, they were due to local distribution gaps and not the overall availability of urea.

Patra also criticised Patnaik for merely sending letters instead of coordinating with the Ministry to resolve the issue.

"There is no shortage of fertiliser in the state. If there are any issues, it might be due to delays in reaching certain places. Naveen Patnaik only writes letters. Earlier, he had written a letter to Mamata Banerjee. Everyone knows what the outcome was. And now, he has written a letter to the Union Fertiliser Minister. What difference does that make?"

Meanwhile, BJD MLA Arun Sahoo reiterated Patnaik’s concerns, stating that farmers in many districts continue to face difficulties obtaining fertiliser at the government-approved rates.

“This BJP government is ineffective. There is black marketing in fertiliser distribution. If the government is truly popular, why are farmers not coming forward? Odisha ranks fourth in food supply. The government should resolve the fertiliser issue. Otherwise, there will be a massive farmers’ agitation,” Sahu said.

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Farmers Continue To Struggle

On the ground, the situation remains acute. Reports from Ganjam district’s Bhanjanagar subdivision indicate that farmers have received only 9 metric tonnes of urea, far below the required quantity for paddy cultivation.

Cooperative society centres in several blocks have run out of stock, leading to scuffles and long queues.

Farmers have reportedly been forced to purchase fertiliser from the black market at Rs 700–Rs 800 per bag, nearly triple the government-approved rate of Rs 270.

Police intervention was required at distribution centres to maintain order, while several villages reportedly received no supply at all, intensifying local frustration.