No Dearth of Urea in State, Says Minister

Hyderabad:Agriculture minister Tummala Nagesawara Rao said the state had ample stocks of urea, and had supplied 4.04 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) to farmers during ongoing Yasangi season from October to December 31, a record over eight years.

Responding to questions during Question Hour, Nageswara Rao informed the Council that Central allocations for December stood at 5.60 LMT, but the state had already lifted 5.78 LMT. "The government is fully prepared to meet farmers' needs," he stated, dismissing Opposition claims of shortages.

Rao accused political rivals of spreading false information and exaggerating queues at a few of the state's 12,000 centers for "political gain. He recalled severe shortages under the previous government, including farmer deaths in queues, and urged against similar tactics. "Farmers won't forgive those inciting panic with isolated photos," he warned.

Nageswara Rao said that the state was implementing a fertiliser supply on experimental basis in five districts and found that small and marginal farmers had been using it extensively. The minister said 1.18 lakh farmers had purchased 3.36 LMT of urea through the app.