Bhubaneswar, August 30: Former Odisha Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the State Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, has raised serious alarm over what he termed as a “fertilisers crisis” in the state. Seeking urgent intervention from the Centre, Patnaik has written to Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, J.P. Nadda, urging immediate measures to tackle the shortage of urea, which he warned could severely disrupt agricultural activities during the ongoing Kharif season.
In his letter, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader expressed deep concern about the growing distress among farmers across Odisha, particularly in tribal and rural districts. He alleged that short supply, black marketing, and corruption in fertiliser distribution have intensified the crisis, pushing farmers into agitation.
“Odisha’s agriculture is the backbone of its economy, providing livelihood to over 70% of the population. Over the last two decades, the state has transformed from a rice-importing region to a major contributor to the national Public Distribution System (PDS). This remarkable growth was made possible only by the adoption of technology and the timely availability of agricultural inputs. But today, our farmers are struggling to get urea at the very start of the Kharif season,” Patnaik wrote.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, he added that despite official claims of 7.94 lakh tonnes of urea being available, farmers are unable to access it at government-approved rates. Instead, he alleged that urea is being sold illegally at inflated prices across the state.
Patnaik accused MARKFED, the state’s designated fertiliser distribution agency, of malpractice, alleging that subsidised fertilisers are being diverted to private traders rather than reaching genuine farmers. He further criticised the inordinate delay in the Talcher fertiliser plant project, whose foundation stone was laid in 2018 with the promise of becoming functional within 36 months. “Seven years have passed, yet the plant remains non-operational,” he said.
Calling for decisive action, the LoP demanded a crackdown on black marketing, strict punishment for corrupt officials and dealers, and immediate steps to restore the supply chain. “If this issue is not resolved quickly, it could not only cripple crop production but also destroy the livelihoods of millions of farmers,” Patnaik warned.
“The need of the hour is to ensure a timely and adequate supply of urea during the Kharif season in the larger interest of the farming community of Odisha,” he concluded, urging the Union government to step in without delay.
