A severe shortage of fertilizers, particularly urea, potash and phosphate, has triggered a crisis in Kuttanad and other parts of Alappuzha district in Kerala, where puncha crop season is under way. The season accounts for the largest acreage of paddy cultivation in the district. Besides paddy, these fertilizers are essential for other crops as well.
“Paddy crops require urea application between 18 and 22 days after planting. In many fields, it is already time for this application. However, farmers are finding it difficult to procure adequate quantities of fertilizers. It is high time the government addressed the issue, as there are serious concerns that productivity will be affected. Farmers are staring at huge losses,”said Siji Chacko, secretary, Aikya Kuttanad Padasekhara Ekopana Samithi.
“The severe shortage has forced many padasekhara samithis and farmers to skip cultivation during the puncha season. This could severely affect agricultural productivity and push farmers into a deep crisis,” he said
Urea costs ₹300 for a 45-kg sack, while the price of potash has increased to ₹1,800 from ₹1,500 per bag. According to sources, the Union government was to supply Kerala around 43,000 tonnes of urea between October and December, but the State has received only about 20,000 tonnes so far. The State government and farmers believe that the Centre’s push to promote nano fertilizers has contributed to the shortage.
Raising the issue of the acute shortage of urea and potash in Kerala in the Lok Sabha recently, Kodikunnil Suresh, MP, said that the scarcity was seriously affecting agriculture in the State. He pointed out that the shortage had disrupted all major crops, including paddy, coconut, arecanut, rubber, cocoa, cardamom and pineapple.
“In the pineapple sector alone, the annual requirement is 22,500 tonnes of urea and 15,000 tonnes of potash. The prevailing shortage is forcing farmers to shift to costlier alternative and complex fertilizers, leading to a sharp rise in production costs and causing nutrient imbalance in agriculture,” he said.
Terming the plight of the farmers as grave, Mr. Suresh criticised the Centre for failing to ensure timely supply despite repeated requests from the State government. In view of the serious situation threatening farmers’ livelihoods, he urged the Union government to act with urgency and ensure the immediate supply of the required quantities of urea and potash to Kerala.
