Bhubaneswar: Farmers across Odisha are facing an acute shortage of urea, a critical fertilizer for the ongoing Kharif crop season, triggering widespread protests and a political blame game. Despite the state government’s claims of having sufficient stock, cultivators allege rampant black-marketing, supply chain mismanagement, and the sale of fertilizers at exorbitant prices.
The crisis has been particularly severe in tribal and western districts, including Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Ganjam, and Koraput, where farmers have been forced to queue for hours at cooperative societies and, in some cases, take to the streets to block highways in protest. Reports suggest a 45 kg bag of urea, which has a government-fixed price of 242, is being sold illegally for as much as Rs.800 to 1,000 in the black market.
The situation has drawn sharp criticism from political leaders. Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition, Shri Naveen Patnaik, has written to Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, seeking immediate intervention. In his letter, Shri Patnaik alleged that the state’s designated distribution agency, MARKFED, is diverting subsidized fertilizer to private traders instead of farmers. He warned that the crisis could seriously disrupt agricultural activities, impact production, and jeopardize the livelihoods of over 70% of the state’s population dependent on farming.
Shri Patnaik also pointed to the long-delayed Talcher fertilizer plant, whose foundation stone was laid in 2018 with a promised completion time of 36 months but remains non-operational seven years later.
In response to the growing unrest, the Odisha government has taken some action, including closing 30 fertilizer shops and suspending the licenses of 62 dealers for alleged violations of the Fertiliser Control Order, 1985. The Deputy Chief Minister, Shri K V Singh Deo who also holds the agriculture portfolio, has assured farmers that there is a “sufficient quantity of fertilizer available” and has warned of strict action against those involved in black-marketing. The state government has also constituted enforcement teams to conduct surprise checks at retail and wholesale outlets. Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja also held a high level review meeting in this regard.
However, opposition parties, including the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress, have dismissed the government’s measures as “too little, too late.” They claim that the government’s response is merely a reaction to the widespread farmer agitation and that proactive planning and a transparent distribution system are needed to address the root causes of the problem.
As the Kharif season progresses, the unresolved urea crisis looms large, with experts warning of a potential decline in crop yields and a severe economic setback for the state’s agricultural community.