Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has sought personal intervention of Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya for enabling the supply of fertilizers to the State as per monthly requirement including the backlog of the previous months in the greater interest of the farmers.
“I request your personal intervention for enabling the supply of fertilizers to the State as per monthly requirement including the backlog of the previous months in the greater interest of the farmers,” stated Patnaik in a letter addressed to Mandaviya today.
While thanking the Department of Fertilizers for ensuring the supply of Urea as per the requirement of the State up to the end of July, Patnaik pointed out that there is a severe shortfall in the supply of DAP and MOP to the State against the requirement.
The Chief Minister stated that during the current Kharif season as on 31 July, the overall availability of DAP has been 69% against the pro rata requirement with a shortfall of 46,877 MT while the shortfall of MOP is 1,010 MT against the pro rata requirement.
He said that there is a huge demand for these fertilizers as there has been a good spell of monsoon after a dry spell which has triggered the agricultural operations to a full swing.
The State has suffered a loss in crop production during the previous year due to natural calamities like YAAS, JAWAD and Gulab, he added.
He said that it is envisaged to make good the loss with a good harvest expecting a near normal monsoon in line with the forecast of IMD.
“Therefore, supply of this most critical input i.e fertilizer should be as per the requirement. Besides, the August-September happens to be the peak demand period for different fertilisers and a short supply during this juncture would adversely affect the agricultural production in the State,” the CM pointed out.
