- Farmers Struggle for Fertiliser
- Dealers accused of diverting supplies
- Selling at inflated rates as farmers struggle in long queues
Article Today, Hyderabad:
Acute shortage of urea has disrupted farming activities across Telangana. Farmers are forced to abandon their work in the fields and spend long hours in queues outside fertiliser shops. Dealers and private traders are reportedly exploiting the situation by engaging in black market sales. Though the government-fixed price for a 45-kg urea bag is Rs.270, reports suggest that in some areas it is being sold for over Rs.500. Farmers are also being compelled to purchase other items along with urea under cash-and-carry conditions.
Direct Diversion from Factories
Several farmers allege that dealers are diverting large consignments directly from factories under the guise of zero-freight supply. Hundreds of bags arriving in lorries are being offloaded onto tractors and jeeps without registration in the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. According to rules, stock must be entered in the DBT machine, and sales should take place only after verifying Aadhaar details, land passbooks, and biometric authentication. However, these procedures are being bypassed, leading to unchecked illegal sales at higher prices.
PACS Under Fire
Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) are also facing criticism for failing to distribute urea effectively. Farmers allege that preference is being given to influential cultivators, leaving small and marginal farmers without access. In many cases, only two bags are allotted per farmer, which does not meet the demand. As a result, poorer farmers, including those engaged in podu cultivation, are compelled to depend on private traders and pay higher prices.
Delayed Supply from Centre
Officials attribute the shortage to delayed supply from the Union government. Telangana requires 9.80 lakh metric tonnes of urea for the current kharif season. By August 31, 8.30 lakh tonnes should have been supplied. However, only 5.66 lakh tonnes have been delivered so far, leaving a deficit of 2.64 lakh tonnes. The shortfall has become critical as paddy transplantation picks up pace across the State.
Calls for Strong Action
Farmers fear that unless timely intervention is made, the crisis will deepen and push cultivation costs higher. They demand strict action against black marketeers and accountability from agricultural officers. Observers caution that unchecked diversion and delay could worsen distress among farmers in the peak cropping season.
