No shortage of urea fertiliser in state: Haryana Agri Minister

The Haryana government today maintained that there is no shortage of urea fertiliser in the state and asked the farmers not to resort to 'panic buying'.

"The state government has adequate quantity of urea to meet the demand of farmers. Initially, some problem was faced on account of less stocking of urea as compared to last year.

"The stock available on start of the season (October) this year was less by 64,000 metric tonnes. However, due to constant efforts made by the Agriculture Department and intervention at various levels with the Centre, the stocks have increased substantially," Haryana Agriculture Minister O P Dhankar told reporters here.
 

The state government has been assured by the Centre that committed allocation of fertiliser for current month shall be supplied and further requirement shall be made as per the state's need during the remaining period of Rabi season.

He said the present supply was sufficient to meet the demand, but at some places in the state, farmers were resorting to 'panic buying'.

He said farmers should not pay heed to any kind of rumour and not stock up the fertiliser beyond requirement as adequate stocks are available.

Dhankar said an environment is deliberately created by some vested interests as if there is shortage of urea in Haryana which results in farmers stocking up for months in advance.

Replying to a question, the Haryana Minister said the state government has issued 23 lakh soil health cards to farmers.

He added that when the BJP government came to power in the state in October this year, there was some mismatch in demand-supply of a seed variety HD-2966, but later, the government took immediate steps and made adequate stocks available in the market.