Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad   

No shortage of urea: Minister

HYDERABAD: Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy asserted on Sunday that the government was doing everything to ensure farmers did not suffer for want of urea and fertilizer. After achieving a record production of 204 lakh tonnes of foodgrain last year, the State was set to surpass the distinction.

At a press conference, after reviewing the fertilizer supply with Agriculture Commissioner Sunil Sharma, he reeled off statistics to prove how the Telugu Desam neglected farmers during its nine-year rule. Whether it was supply of quality seed, fertilizer or crop loaning, the Congress proved, since 2004, that it was closest to farmers, he said.

Responding to criticism by TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Minister said compared to a lending of Rs. 9,000 crore to farmers in 2003-04, the government this year was targeting a whopping Rs. 42,000 crore.

“In its best year, 2003-04, the TDP could achieve grain production of just 36 lakh tonnes while we are targeting a production of 209 lakh tonnes” he added, lambasting the TDP for shedding ‘crocodile' tears.

A 24-hour cell was functioning at the Secretariat to monitor the fertilizer distribution across the State. It had so far received 530 petitions, Mr. Reddy said.

Of the 20,000-odd distribution centres supplying fertilizer to farmers, 17,000 were private while the rest included cooperative societies. Thus far they had got complaints of non-availability of fertilizer to farmers from only two-three centres in four districts, including Warangal, Karimnagar, Krishna and West Godavari.

Logistical issues

Complaints were being promptly redressed, he stated, adding that when there were thousands of centres involved, a few logistic issues were bound to there.

“However, we are keeping a strict watch on the situation. Of the demand last week of 1.2 lakh tonnes of urea, we were able to distribute 1.59 lakh MT. Thanks to the intervention of Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, we were able to persuade Nagarjuna Fertilisers to divert its entire production for the use of farmers in the State, because imports were getting delayed,” he said.

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