Tummala rubbishes claims of fertiliser shortage
The minister accused the Opposition of attempting to create panic among Telangana’s farmers regarding fertiliser availability
Hyderabad: Agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao rubbished the claims of BRS and BJP leaders and denied any shortage of fertilisers in the state. Referring to pictures on social media where farmers had placed long rows of footwear to mark their place in the queues outside of fertiliser shops, he clarified that farmers had arrived early.
In a statement, he said, “We have distributed 1.91 lakh metric tonnes more fertiliser this Rabi season compared to last year. The state holds 1.14 lakh metric tonnes of urea stocks, and we plan to distribute 40,000 metric tonnes this month. Additionally, proposals have been sent to the Centre seeking 80,000 metric tonnes. The scene of passbooks and slippers being kept in line to buy fertilisers was staged by those seeking political gains.”
He accused the Opposition of attempting to create panic among Telangana’s farmers regarding fertiliser availability and urged them to refrain from spreading misinformation. Any issues with supply or distribution should be reported to the concerned agriculture officer, he added, pointing out that the Centre had provided only 6.81 lakh metric tonnes of urea instead of the promised 8.54 lakh metric tonnes.
Addressing reports from the primary agriculture co-operative society (PACS) in Jagtial, where farmers were seen waiting for urea, he noted that the society had 890 bags in stock while the number of farmers present did not exceed 80.
