Odisha’s Chief Secretary, Manoj Ahuja, conducted a comprehensive review of fertilizer availability for farmers across the state today.
The meeting, held at Lok Seva Bhawan, focused on ensuring seamless fertilizer supply and cracking down on illegal practices such as black marketing and hoarding.
Key officials, including Principal Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Sanjay Kumar Singh, Director General of Police Y.B. Khurania, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Cooperation Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, Director of Agriculture Shubham Saxena, and MARKFED authorities, participated in the discussion. District Collectors joined virtually to provide updates on local fertilizer distribution.
Dr. Padhee highlighted significant improvements in the state’s fertilizer supply chain, emphasizing that districts are receiving adequate stocks based on demand. He noted that regular monitoring by District Collectors ensures fertilizers reach grassroots levels where needed most. Since the start of the agricultural season, Odisha required 10 lakh metric tonnes of fertilizers, and by September 17, 11,98,572 metric tonnes had been made available. Additionally, 8,921 metric tonnes of urea are in transit via rail and road, with plans to supply an additional 30,900 metric tonnes in September to meet district demands.
To combat illegal fertilizer trade, strict enforcement measures are in place. Raids are being conducted regularly, and seized stocks are redistributed to farmers based on need. Dr. Padhee addressed farmers’ high demand for urea, advocating for balanced use of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium) fertilizers in a 4:2:1 ratio to maintain soil fertility. He urged District Collectors and officials to raise awareness about optimal fertilizer use at the district and grassroots levels.
Chief Secretary Ahuja issued a stern directive to adopt a “zero tolerance” policy toward black marketing and hoarding. He advised District Collectors to reallocate fertilizer stocks based on regional needs, ensuring equitable distribution down to the Gram Panchayat level. Ahuja also instructed officials to investigate media reports of fertilizer shortages and address any genuine issues promptly.
