Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja conducted a comprehensive review meeting with all District Collectors

Bhubaneswar:6/9/25:To address the persistent challenges faced by farmers in accessing fertilisers, Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja conducted a comprehensive review meeting with all District Collectors today.

Held at Lok Seva Bhawan, the meeting saw virtual participation from District Collectors, alongside key officials, including Principal Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Cooperation Department, Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, and Director of Agriculture, Shubham Saxena. Senior officials from both the Agriculture and Cooperation Departments were also present.

The Chief Secretary emphasised the state government’s priority to ensure farmers receive adequate fertiliser supplies, especially given the favourable monsoon this year, which has boosted agricultural activities. He directed officials to strengthen monitoring systems at both the state and district levels to ensure seamless fertiliser distribution. District Collectors were instructed to conduct regular field-level assessments and take necessary actions to address any gaps in supply.

According to the discussions, Odisha had proposed a requirement of 10 lakh metric tonnes of various fertilisers, including urea, for the Kharif 2025 season. As of September 5, 2025, the state has received 11.33 lakh metric tonnes, with 9.16 lakh metric tonnes already sold. Currently, 2.07 lakh metric tonnes remain available for distribution. Compared to the average fertiliser supply of 8.81 lakh metric tonnes by September 30 over the past three years, this year’s supply of 9.16 lakh metric tonnes by September 5 marks a 20% increase over last year’s 7.77 lakh metric tonnes for the same period.

Dr. Padhee highlighted that the increased demand for fertilisers is driven by good monsoon rains and farmers’ growing interest in paddy cultivation. The Agriculture and Cooperation Departments are actively monitoring distribution to ensure fertilisers reach farmers as per their needs. District Collectors have been directed to oversee areas facing supply challenges and ensure immediate action personally. Instructions were also issued to ensure fertilisers are distributed promptly upon arrival and stored adequately at Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and Large-Sized Agricultural Multi-Purpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPS).

To prevent overpricing, strict checks on dealers have been mandated. The Chief Secretary also stressed the need to crack down on illegal fertiliser hoarding and smuggling, ensuring that seized stocks are redistributed to farmers. Fertiliser companies have been advised to maintain sufficient stocks at PACS and LAMPS, with Markfed instructed to ensure adequate storage facilities. District Collectors were further directed to assess future fertiliser requirements for the upcoming Kharif season well in advance to avoid shortages.

The meeting also reviewed the status of fertiliser deliveries to railway rake points across Odisha and their availability in districts for the coming week. The Chief Secretary underscored the importance of aligning fertiliser distribution with the number of registered farmers and their land data to ensure equitable access.