Article Today, Hyderabad:
Telangana is facing a severe shortage of urea during a crucial spell of the monsoon. The State has acknowledged a deficit of 2.98 lakh metric tonnes. Civil Supplies Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao admitted that the government is unable to ensure timely delivery to all farmers. Allegations of collusion between middlemen and officials have further fuelled anger, as black market sales are reportedly thriving.
Farmers in Queues
Across the State, videos of farmers waiting in long queues for fertiliser have gone viral. The situation prompted Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to take serious note. He is said to have pulled up officials for failing to regulate distribution. The Minister explained that while the Centre had allocated over 8.3 lakh metric tonnes between April and August, only 5.32 lakh metric tonnes were supplied. The shortfall has left farmers without adequate stock for their standing crops.
Central Allocation Mismatch
According to official data, the Union government had promised 1.7 lakh metric tonnes for April, 1.6 lakh for May, 1.7 lakh for June, 1.6 lakh for July, and 1.7 lakh for August. However, actual deliveries were far below these allocations. The gap has created an acute crisis in the State, making it impossible to provide farmers with the required quantities at once.
Minister’s Review Meeting
In a review with district Collectors on Monday, Minister Rao directed strict monitoring of stocks at wholesale points, cooperative societies, and retail outlets. He insisted that the administration regulate supply carefully to prevent diversion. The instructions also stressed the need to ensure fair distribution through transparent mechanisms.
Priority to Small Farmers
Officials were told to give preference to small and marginal farmers. Larger farmers are to receive supply in phases. The Minister suggested linking supply to Pattadar passbooks and issuing tokens to avoid confusion at distribution centres. Collectors were directed to personally oversee allocation at the mandal level, with close coordination between agriculture, police, and cooperative departments.
Crackdown on Black market
To curb malpractice, task force teams involving multiple departments will track illegal stockpiling and interstate smuggling. Dealers found selling at inflated prices or tying urea sales with other products will face strict action. Industrial units suspected of diverting subsidised fertiliser will also come under scrutiny. Officials will verify their production records and billing data, and initiate cases where irregularities are found.
Call for Balanced Use
The government urged farmers to avoid excessive use of urea. Awareness campaigns will encourage adoption of alternatives such as nano urea, DAP, MOP, complex fertilisers, and bio-fertilisers. The Minister said monthly reviews would track large-scale buyers and sellers through online records, ensuring greater transparency.
Hope for Relief
Authorities expect that tighter monitoring and phased distribution will ease the pressure on the market. However, until fresh supplies arrive, the State continues to grapple with a deficit. For thousands of farmers waiting in lines, relief still appears uncertain.
