Urea Availability to Farmers Being Ensured, Says Tummala

Hyderabad: Agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao on Tuesday appealed to farmers, especially those who own large farm land, not to rush to buy large quantities of urea at once, stating that the government is committed to equitable distribution of fertilizer to all farmers, including those with small and marginal land holdings.

Urea materials will be provided in phases depending on the need and the stage of the crop. The minister said farmers should also be careful not to overuse urea as this could damage soil fertility.

Addressing farmers through video conferencing during the weekly Rythu Nestham programme, Nageswara Rao said 22.67 lakh urea bags are available at retail outlets, 5.56 lakh at cooperatives, 59.56 lakh at Markfed and 3.56 lakh bags at warehouses in the state.

He said that farmers who do not have a smartphone or cannot use the fertilizer application for various reasons can also receive free service every day from 10 am to 17 pm. Once a call is received, staff will complete the urea booking process on behalf of farmers and assist them throughout the process.

Measures are being taken to ensure that only real farmers can purchase fertilizer and that people who do not have agricultural land cannot purchase urea. He said that the state is coordinating with the central government to ensure the required quota of urea and steps are being taken to ensure timely transportation of urea to the districts through railway wagons and trucks.