Urea Shortage Hits 2.24-L Tonnes in Telangana
Tummala criticised BJP leaders in Telangana for repeatedly citing the rabi season’s surplus to downplay the crisis. He clarified that the 1.92 lakh metric tonnes of surplus were already utilised to offset current deficits, and accused the BJP of spreading misinformation and undermining the state’s efforts.
Hyderabad: The urea shortage in Telangana has reached 2.24 lakh tonnes due to insufficient supplies from the Centre, said agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao. In a media statement on Wednesday, the minister stated that the demand for urea generally surges during the kharif (vanakalam) season in August. He expressed concern that if the Centre fails to meet the urea quota allotted for the season, the situation will worsen further in August.
Tummala said Telangana’s highest seasonal consumption stands at 10.48 lakh metric tonnes, prompting the state to request 11.50 lakh metric tonnes from the Centre for the current kharif. However, only 9.80 lakh metric tonnes were allotted, as the surplus urea available for the 2024-25 rabi (yasangi season) stands at 1.92 lakh metric tonnes.
Of this, 6.60 lakh metric tonnes were scheduled to be dispatched between April and July—1.70 lakh in April, 1.60 lakh in May, 1.70 lakh in June and 1.60 lakh in July. But only 4.36 lakh metric tonnes have actually reached the state, leaving a shortfall of 2.24 lakh metric tonnes by the end of July.
For the entire kharif season, the state requires an additional 5.44 lakh metric tonnes. The Centre should supply this quantity within the next two months. The minister has urged the Centre to address the shortfall by supplying the remaining 2.24 lakh metric tonnes in August, when fertiliser usage typically peaks.
Tummala criticised BJP leaders in Telangana for repeatedly citing the rabi season’s surplus to downplay the crisis. He clarified that the 1.92 lakh metric tonnes of surplus were already utilised to offset current deficits, and accused the BJP of spreading misinformation and undermining the state’s efforts.
He called on BJP leaders to acknowledge the gravity of the situation and focus on securing timely urea supplies, rather than indulging in baseless claims. “Farmers need fertiliser, not false narratives,” he said.
