MP and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said that efforts were being made to supply 1.35 lakh tonnes of urea to Karnataka in the next fortnight, even as he alleged ‘massive corruption’ in the supply of urea.
He also alleged that the State government had over supplied urea so far, which meant it had buffer stock.
“The farmers in Karnataka are not getting urea, and the crisis did not blow up quickly. Owing to copious rains, the sowing area of maize increased by one-and-a-half times, which was known to the Agriculture Department. Though the demand for urea starts from July and lasts till August, this year, the demand started from the third week of June. Because of rainfall, farmers are forced to use urea thrice instead of once, which is causing financial burden on farmers,” he said at a joint press conference of BJP MPs in Delhi.
There is a stock of 1.35 lakh tonnes in the State, which should be efficiently supplied to farmers, he added.
Blaming the department for failing to anticipate the demand, Mr. Bommai said that it should have kept enough buffer stock considering last year’s demand and supplied it to farmers.
“The department is unable to gauge the demand. There is massive corruption in the supply of urea, wherein rich farmers paying premium are getting urea while poor farmers with small holdings are unable to get the fertilizer despite waiting at stores that are involved in selling it on the black market. Criminal action should be taken against such traders and their licence should be cancelled.”
The former Chief Minister said that as against the demand of 11.17 lakh tonnes of fertilizers for the kharif season, the supply till July should be 6.25 lakh tonnes of which 5.35 lakh tonnes have been supplied. “The State government has reported that it has already supplied 7.74 lakh tonnes, which means that the State had buffer stocks. The Centre has to supply 1.35 lakh tonnes for which a delegation met Fertilizers Minister J.P. Nadda who has promised supply within 15 days. The Centre will be supplying 15,000 to 20,000 tonnes of fertilizers daily”.
Those present included Govind Karjol, Kota Srinivas Poojary, C.N. Manjunath, P.C. Gaddigouder, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, and Eeranna Kadadi.
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Published – July 28, 2025 09:34 pm IST
