Godavari Fert to cater to Andhra farmers alone

The estimated consumption of fertilisers in the state for the current kharif season is pegged at 3.25 million tonne while it is 3.6 million tonne for rabi. Of this, the federation is procuring 30 per cent both from Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (Iffco) and Indian Potash Limited (IPL). This along with GFCL's supply from July would meet the entire requirement of the state farmers, he told mediapersons here on Monday.

GFCL, part of the Chennai-based business conglomerate Murugappa Group, currently caters to about half-a-dozen states including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Orissa. It has a production capacity of 90,000 tonne DAP (diammonium phosphate) and 70,000 tonne complex fertilisers per month.

Prabhakar said the state government had given APMarkfed the provision to borrow Rs 500 crore from banks for procurement and supply of agri inputs to farmers at affordable prices. Besides, it has allotted Rs 25 crore to meet secondary transportation charges and godown rentals.

"The loan interest on Rs 500 crore would be borne by the state government. We have already raised Rs 300 crore from various banks towards advance payment to Iffco, IPL and Ckoramaandel Fertilisers for supply of agri inputs," he said.

So far, APMarkfed had procured 83,000 tonne of DAP and complex fertilisers and distributed 56,000 tonne to farmers through cooperative societies. It has 26,841 tonne in its buffer godowns, Prabhakar said, while requesting farmers to purchase stocks only for their present requirement as the prices of complex fertilisers were likely to be brought down by between Rs 40 and Rs 100 per bag (50 kg) in a couple of days.