Palakkad: There is a severe shortage of urea in the state leaving the farmers in utter desperation. Farmers said that they have not been able to provide the required amount of fertiliser even once in the paddy fields which need to receive three times by now. If fertilisers are not provided on time, production is expected to decrease from 2,200 kg per acre to around 1,800 kg, according to farmers.

The main reason for the problem is that fertiliser depots are hesitant to take urea stock due to the mandatory requirement to purchase expensive fertilisers like potash along with urea. Depot owners said that without people buying the other fertilisers, the urea stock becomes obsolete, causing considerable losses. Fertiliser stock was previously stored in cooperative society depots based on seasonal demand. However, this time, most of the societies are not willing to stock urea.

The subsidised urea, priced at Rs 266 for a 45 kg bag, is sold at a higher price of Rs 330 in private retail shops. However, farmers are facing a situation where they cannot obtain fertilisers even from these sources. Here also, they are forced to buy expensive fertilisers.

Traders said that the central government's policy to promote nano-urea and the reduced availability of powdered urea have also contributed to the issue. They further said that lower commissions and reduced effectiveness of urea after being stored for more than three months are reasons behind the decrease in urea stock.

Companies like Mangalore Fertilizers, SPIC, IFFCO, RCF, Madras Fertilizers and IPL supply fertilisers to the state. Many of these companies import the fertilisers. As part of the effort to bring more fertiliser into the state, wagons from some production companies have recently arrived in Kozhikode, according to agriculture department officials.