Kerala - Kochi   

State facing shortage of fertilizers

KOCHI: Fertilizer shortage in the State has touched unprecedented levels in recent times with supply of complex fertilizers and urea hitting a new low during the last four months.

Coming as it is in the peak months of October and November, fertilizer shortage is likely to hit districts like Palakkad, Idukki and Alappuzha the hardest.

Palakkad, for example, was sent a consignment of 1,200 tonnes of factamfos this week whereas the demand is for about three times that quantity.

Production of factamfos (20:20), a popular brand of complex fertiliser in south India and the sales driver for Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT), has been halved over the last four months and its production might come to a halt by the end of November if sulphur is not purchased soon enough.

Factamfos production is now about 1,000 tonnes daily against the actual requirement of 2,500 tonnes with the Kochi division of FACT producing about 800 tonnes and the Udyogamandal division about 200 tonnes.

FACT sources said that factamfos sales this year was likely to end up at around four lakh tonnes compared to the usual 7.5 to eight lakh tonnes.

Shortage of 17:17:17, another popular brand of complex fertiliser in south India (from Madras Fertilizers) has worsened the situation. The shortage of both of these brands is owing to lower production levels caused by the spiralling price of sulphur.

Urea supply too has come down considerably.

Sources said here that urea supply during the last month was about 15,000 tonnes in the State whereas the supply was only 6,000 tonnes.

Sources said here that FACT had requested the Union government for a shipment of urea for Kochi during the current month.

If about 20,000 or 25,000 tonnes of urea was available now it could easily meet the requirement of the season.

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