Bhubaneswar: The Kharif season has officially commenced, with the state setting a crop plan of 58.50 lakh hectares for 2025. A review meeting on the fertilizer supply situation for Kharif crops was held today at Krushi Bhavan Conference Hall under the chairmanship of Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from key departments including Cooperation, MARKFED, OAIC, and IFFCO.
Officials confirmed that sufficient steps have been taken to ensure the availability of fertilizers such as Urea, DAP, MOP, NPKS, and SSP at MARKFED, PACS, LAMPCS, and retail dealers ahead of Kharif operations. Based on last year’s records, fertilizer stocks have been arranged well in advance to meet the peak demand period between August and September.
The government has also issued strict guidelines regarding the tagging and distribution of nano fertilizers, advising all stakeholders to avoid unauthorized activities. Farmers are free to choose the fertilizer grades best suited to their needs.
Agriculture Secretary Dr. Padhee warned against the sale, hoarding, and black marketing of spurious fertilizers, stating that the Enforcement Squad is actively conducting surprise inspections across the state. Actions are being taken promptly to prevent illegal practices and protect farmers’ interests.
The meeting further discussed the establishment of new rake points to ensure timely fertilizer supply throughout Odisha.