The Karnataka Assembly erupted in a heated debate today as lawmakers clashed over a severe fertilizer scarcity that threatens the state’s agricultural sector. Farmers across Karnataka are reporting critical shortages of vital nutrients like urea and DAP, endangering their standing crops and future harvests. This urgent situation has sparked accusations between the state and central governments over supply cuts and distribution issues, leaving thousands of farming families worried about their livelihoods as the crucial planting season continues without enough essential fertilizers.
Heated Debate in the Assembly
The Karnataka Assembly recently saw a fiery debate over the reported shortage of farm fertilizers. The discussion quickly turned intense, with members from the ruling Congress party and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) engaging in loud exchanges and personal attacks. The shouting became so widespread that the Speaker, UT Khader, had to call for a special meeting with leaders from both sides to calm things down. After this meeting, the House reconvened. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah joined the Speaker in urging all lawmakers to show discipline and respect the high standards of the Assembly. Despite these calls for calm, the strong disagreement continued, leading to a walkout by the opposition members.
Farmers Face Difficult Times
Farmers across Karnataka are feeling stressed because of the scarcity of key fertilizers, especially urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP). Many farmers are restless, even with good monsoon rains, as they struggle to get the fertilizers they need for their crops. The cost of these essential farm products has also gone up sharply. For example, a 50-kilogram bag of urea, which once cost around Rs 250, is now being sold for Rs 330-350, with some farmers paying as much as Rs 400. The price of potash has risen from Rs 1,400-1,500 to over Rs 1,700 per bag. suphala now costs Rs 1,650, up from Rs 1,450. This increase in fertilizer prices has pushed up the cost of growing crops, adding a heavy financial burden on farmers.
Government Explains its Position
Karnataka Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy stated that the central government had reduced fertilizer supplies to the state by 2. 75 lakh metric tonnes between April and August of this year. He mentioned that Karnataka’s annual need was 11. 17 lakh metric tonnes. while 5. 55 lakh metric tonnes were supplied by April with an extra 20,000 metric tonnes, later allocations saw cuts. Specifically, there was a reduction of 10,000 metric tonnes in May, 79,000 metric tonnes in June. 58,000 metric tonnes in July. The Minister explained that the central government had advised states to use less DAP and urea. He pointed to several reasons for this, including problems with imports from countries like Iran and China, a decrease in fertilizer production within India. ongoing global conflicts affecting supply chains. Minister Cheluvarayaswamy stressed that the state government is carefully managing fertilizer distribution. He also accused opposition parties of turning the fertilizer issue into a political matter and causing panic among farmers, which he said made it harder to find solutions. He argued that the fertilizer shortage is not just a problem for Karnataka but is affecting many other states across the country, including Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu. Gujarat. The Minister confirmed that he had sent several letters to the central government asking for more urea. Department officials are also in regular contact with central government counterparts to close the supply gap. He also mentioned asking Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to intervene at the highest level by writing to the Centre and raising the issue during his visit to Delhi. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has given assurances that arrangements will be made to supply the remaining amount of fertilizers to help Karnataka deal with the shortage.
Opposition Raises Concerns
The opposition parties, mainly the BJP and JD(S), criticized the state government’s handling of the fertilizer issue. They claimed that the shortage was not due to a lack of supply but rather because of poor distribution and management by the state government. The opposition accused the government of “turning a blind eye” to the problems faced by farmers. Deputy Leader of Opposition Arvind Bellad presented figures to argue that the central government had supplied enough fertilizer to Karnataka. But, Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy rejected these numbers. The opposition also alleged that the current state government had reduced the money set aside for fertilizers, dropping it from Rs 1,000 crore under the previous BJP government to Rs 400 crore. They also raised concerns about farmers not getting good quality fertilizers and cases of poor quality seeds. Moreover, the opposition accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of favoring Kerala’s Wayanad with funds while neglecting financial problems and fertilizer shortages within Karnataka, even alleging that urea was being smuggled to Kerala. The Agriculture Minister, But, called these accusations “baseless.”
Factors Driving Demand
Several factors have led to a higher demand for fertilizers in Karnataka. An early and good monsoon season caused farmers to start sowing crops earlier than usual, leading to an increased need for fertilizers. There has also been a change in farming patterns, with many farmers shifting from crops like cotton to maize. Maize crops require a larger amount of urea, which further increased the overall demand. Also, an increase in horticulture crops also contributed to the spike in demand for urea and other fertilizers.
Government Takes Action
To address the situation and prevent artificial shortages, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered strict action against those involved in illegal selling of fertilizers. The Agriculture Department has already conducted raids across the state, seizing unauthorized fertilizers and pesticides worth Rs 5. 29 lakh. The licenses of sellers involved in these activities have been suspended. actions have been taken against those selling fertilizers at prices higher than official rates or diverting supplies meant for other areas. The Chief Minister has given clear instructions for authorities to closely watch for any activities that could create false shortages and take firm action against those responsible. 
