Farmers in Telangana are breathing a sigh of relief as the Central government has approved an urgent additional allocation of 1.17 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of imported urea for the month of September. This significant boost comes after repeated appeals from the State government to address the growing demand for fertilizers.
Out of this fresh allocation, approximately 60,000 MT of urea is already en route, with another 50,000 MT expected to arrive in the state within the next week. This adds to the 1.44 lakh MT of urea that Telangana has already received this month, ensuring a more robust supply chain for the agricultural sector.
These vital supplies are being channeled through various major ports, including Kakinada (15,900 MT), Visakhapatnam (37,650 MT), Gangavaram (27,000 MT), Mangaluru (8,100 MT), Jaigad (16,200 MT), and Krishnapatnam (13,000 MT), strategically distributing the inbound shipments.
The State government has been actively lobbying the Centre to guarantee a consistent supply of fertilizers, especially as the agricultural demand intensifies due to expanding cultivation areas, spurred by recent good rains.
Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageshwar Rao personally engaged with the Union Chemicals Minister and other senior officials in Delhi on multiple occasions to underscore the critical need for these supplies, which ultimately led to the Centre’s positive response, according to an official statement.
Adding to the challenge, officials highlighted that the Ramagundam Fertiliser Plant, a key domestic source of urea for Telangana, has been out of operation for the past 90 days due due to technical issues. Minister Rao has pressed the Centre to accelerate the plant’s restoration, a request that the Union government has reportedly acknowledged favorably.
“We are fully committed to preventing any fertilizer shortages or disruptions to agricultural activities. Farmers have no cause for concern,” the Minister assured in a recent statement. “The State will maintain close coordination with the Centre to ensure an uninterrupted flow of urea supplies.”