Union Fertilizers Minister assures MP CM of an adequate supply of fertilizers

New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh's Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a meeting with Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers DV Sadananda Gowda in New Delhi on Monday. Assuring for an adequate supply of fertilizers, Gowda has said that there is no scarcity of fertilizers across the country during on-going Kharif season. He added prepositioning in adequate quantities have been done in consultations with the state governments.

He further said the adequate availability of urea in his state as per the demand is being made and will be made. Chouhan said that though there has not been the scarcity of urea in the state so far, the consumption of urea has increased due to higher rainfall in this monsoon and the commensurate increase in sowing by 47 percent as compared to the corresponding period last year.

Sighting this he requested the central government to make the additional allocation of urea to the state and projected requirements during the months of July, August and September as there is a higher demand of urea expected during this Kharif season by farmers.

Gowda assured that adequate supply of urea will be made available to Madhya Pradesh in coming days. Till June, the state has received nearly 55,000 MT of additional urea, and 19,000 MT has been allocated on July 3 in addition to July supply plan. The Department of Fertilizers is continuously monitoring the situation and is committed to making an adequate supply of urea to meet the demand of farmers during the ongoing Kharif season. He added that the central government under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi is very particular about ensuring the supply of fertilisers in adequate quantity at affordable prices to farmers within the requisite time.

DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) sales of fertilizers have witnessed significant jump this Kharif season during the month of May and June across the country due to better than expected monsoon.

In Madhya Pradesh, DBT sales of urea has increased by 176 percent and 167 percent in the month of May and June respectively as compared to the corresponding month last year. However, urea availability position in Madhya Pradesh is comfortable at present and there is a closing stock of 4.63 lakh MT in the state as on July 4. The Department of Fertilisers is reviewing the situation very closely, and any additional demand of fertilizers will be met, in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, through increased domestic production and imports, said a press release from the Fertilizers Ministry. 

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