Agriculture Minister asks Collectors to closely monitor urea supply, availability and distribution

Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu on Thursday held a teleconference with the district Collectors on the availability, supply, and distribution of urea across the State, and directed them to ensure strict monitoring and swift problem resolution.

The Collectors from Krishna, NTR, Srikakulam, Bapatla, Vizianagaram, Kadapa, Eluru, and Sri Sathya Sai districts participated in the review.

Mr. Atchannaidu emphasised that official records and ground-level stocks must match without discrepancies. He asked the Collectors to submit reports on district-wise urea availability and address issues, particularly in Krishna, Bapatla, and Kadapa districts.

He instructed that stocks from surplus areas be diverted to the deficit regions, with transportation costs borne by the government. He reassured the farmers that the Centre had already allocated 9.5 lakh MT of fertilizers for the rabi season.

The Minister also called for coordination with the port and railway authorities to ensure the timely arrival of 53,000 MT of urea from the Gangavaram and Kakinada ports.

To counter misinformation in the media and social platforms, Mr. Atchannaidu directed the Collectors to issue daily updates on stock positions.

He appreciated the ‘Dial Your Collector’ initiative launched in NTR district, and called for special efforts to resolve issues faced at the Gromor outlets. He suggested the setting up of dedicated rural counters to ensure timely distribution of fertilizer.

The Collectors were asked to form mandal-level teams, ensure smooth supplies for the next 10 days, and, if needed, adopt a token-based system. A WhatsApp group had also been created for real-time monitoring by senior agriculture and vigilance officials.