Naveen Patnaik demands more fertiliser as cultivation work picks up

BHUBANESWAR: With agricultural operation in full swing in Odisha on the back of good rainfall, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today asked the Centre to enhance the fertiliser allocation for the state in August.

"I would request you to kindly consider the genuine need of the farming community of our state and enhance the allocation of urea from 1.14 lakh MT to 1.75 lakh MT for the month of August," Patnaik wrote to Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar.

Patnaik's letter was based on the indication from the ministry that the allocation of urea to Odisha could be 1.14 lakh mt which was not adequate for August, when the demand for it is more.

"...Against 5.25 lakh MT of urea, we have received about 1.40 lakh MT till end of June. Therefore, Odisha is due to receive 2.34 lakh MT of urea in August and September," Patnaik said in the letter.

With good rainfall, the state government estimated that the farmers would demand more fertiliser. The state needed to preposition fertilisers at block and panchayat levels to safeguard the interest of farmers.

"The state requires 1.75 lakh tonnes of urea, 35,000 tonnes of DAP, 30,000 tonnes of MoP and 60,000 tonnes of complex fertilizer," Chief Secretary G C Pati said in a letter to Union Fertiliser Secretary Anuj Kumar Bishnoi.

Meanwhile, the secretary to the state agriculture department, Rajesh Verma met the Union Secretary, Fertiliser and requested him to take the required steps.