Make urea available for Odisha farmers, demands former CM Naveen Patnaik

Former Odisha Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik urged J.P. Nadda, Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers, to take necessary steps for adequate supply of urea to Odisha during this kharif season.

In a letter addressed to Mr. Nadda, Mr. Patnaik said, “agriculture is the mainstay of Odisha’s economy which provides livelihood to more than 70% of its population. In the past two decades, Odisha’s growth in the agricultural sector has been spectacular. From a mere importer of rice, Odisha has transformed itself to a major contributor to country’s Public Distribution system.”

“This has become possible because of the use of technology and adequate supply of input. Fertilizer being a major input to agriculture production, its smooth supply is very crucial for crop growth during kharif. The farmers of Odisha are now facing a major problem in obtaining urea during this ongoing kharif season,” the veteran leader said.

He pointed out that short-supply of urea along with its black marketing and adulteration, was a major concern for farmers now in the start of the kharif season.

“In many districts particularly in tribal districts, the farmers are on an agitation path due to non-availability of urea. If not addressed timely, it may cause serious disruption of farm activities which will impact production and also affect the livelihood of farmers,” Mr. Patnaik said.

“Odisha government claims to have 7.94 lakh tonne of urea, yet farmers are struggling to get them. Urea is being sold illegally at a higher price than the government approved rate across Odisha,” he alleged.

“MARKFED, the government’s designated distribution agency, is supplying subsidised fertilisers to private traders instead of farmers. Despite lower fertiliser use in Odisha, supply chain mismanagement and corruption have pushed our farmers to the edge,” the BJD supremo charged.

“Delay in the Talcher fertiliser plant, whose foundation stone was laid in 2018, is also a concern. It was promised to be made functional in 36 months, but seven years later, it still remains non-operational,” Mr. Patnaik said.

He demanded that need of the hour was immediate crackdown on black marketing and punishment of guilty dealers and officials associated with fertiliser distribution through cooperative societies.