Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi has taken a strong stand on the state’s fertilizer supply, asserting that there is no shortage and directing a full-scale monitoring and enforcement effort to ensure smooth distribution for the Kharif season. The government’s actions come amid mounting pressure from the opposition and widespread protests by farmers over an alleged scarcity of urea and other key soil nutrients.
In a high-level meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan, the Chief Minister reviewed the supply situation and issued directives to all District Collectors. According to official figures, the state has a comfortable stock of 11,66,733 metric tonnes of fertilizer, with 9,85,967 metric tonnes already sold. The Central Government has allocated the full 9,55,000 metric tonnes required by the state for the Kharif season, with the possibility of requesting more if needed.
“Fertilizer distribution is going on smoothly as per the requirement,” the Chief Minister stated, while also acknowledging the need to address complaints of illegal activities. He has ordered a crackdown on black marketing, hoarding, and fake fertilizer sales, directing divisional officers to take immediate action on any such reports. In a new directive, he advised that any fertilizer seized during inspections should be immediately transferred to the nearest PACS or LAMPCS for distribution to farmers, rather than being held up.
The government’s stance, however, has been met with skepticism from the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress. BJD chief and Leader of the Opposition, Naveen Patnaik, recently wrote to the Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers, J.P. Nadda, urging central intervention to address the “acute shortage” and “rampant black marketing” that he claims is pushing farmers to the brink.
On the ground, reports from various districts, including Koraput, Balangir, and Malkangiri, paint a different picture. Farmers have been seen queuing for hours, and in some cases overnight, at cooperative societies to secure a single bag of fertilizer. There have been instances of farmers placing their Aadhaar cards in queues to save their spot, highlighting the desperation. The opposition alleges that subsidized fertilizer is being diverted to private traders who then sell it at inflated prices, sometimes for as much as ₹800-₹1,000 per bag, far above the official rate.
The government has responded by announcing a series of enforcement measures. Inspections have been carried out at over 4,500 retail outlets, resulting in show-cause notices for over 1,200 retailers and the suspension or cancellation of licenses for more than 60 dealers.
The Chief Minister also emphasized the promotion of Crop Diversification and Integrated Farming Systems to boost the cultivation of oilseeds and pulses under the Samriddh Kisan Yojana. While the government aims to empower farmers and ensure their prosperity, the ongoing crisis over fertilizer supply remains a significant challenge, with the official claims of “no shortage” contrasting sharply with the ground reality faced by many cultivators.