Centre offers more fertiliser to Odisha

Though 11 districts recorded deficit rainfall, the situation was gradually improving in eight districts due to recent rainfall in the state, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Harish Rawat said.

"We are ready to provide more fertiliser, particualrly urea. However, the state government must ensure proper distribution among farmers," Rawat told reporters during a day's visit here.

While the state government planned to supply about 9.66 laqkh MT of fertilisers to farmers this season, the cultivators have so far procured and applied about 2.25 lakh MT of nutrients, official sources said.

The union minister also held discussions with state leaders on issues relating to agricultural activities in the context of deficit rainfall, they said.

Revenue and Disaster management minister S N Patro said the state government has apprised the Centre about deficit rainfall.

Though the situation in some districts has slightly improved due to rainfall in the last four days, the average deficit for the state remained at 12.2 per cent at end of July, he said.

"Two districts - Balasore and Deogarh - have recorded deficit between 39 per cent and 59 per cent," Patro said.

While Deogarh recorded 41 per cent deficit rainfall, Balasore was worst hit in the state with deficit rainfall of 55.6 per cent.

Other districts which recorded deficit rainfall above 20 per cent are: Keonjhar (-35.9%), Bhadrak (-31.2%), Nuapada (-3-.4%), Mayurbhanj and Boudh (-28.1% each), Kendrapara (-24.1%) and Sundergarh (-23.3%).