Bhubaneswar: With the Kharif season underway, the Odisha government has intensified efforts to ensure timely and adequate availability of fertilizers across the state. A high-level review meeting chaired by Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department Principal Secretary Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee was held today at Krushi Bhavan to assess the current supply situation and chalk out steps for peak demand months.
The state has a Kharif crop target covering 58.50 lakh hectares in 2025. To meet fertilizer requirements for this vast cultivation plan, the government is ensuring advance stocking of key fertilizers such as Urea, DAP, MOP, NPKS, and SSP at designated points including MARKFED, PACS, LAMPCS, and authorized retail dealers.
Officials from departments like Cooperation, Markfed, OAIC, and representatives of fertilizer agencies such as IFFCO participated in the meeting. Emphasis was laid on maintaining uninterrupted supply during the peak demand period, expected between August and September.
Dr. Padhee directed all agencies to keep sufficient fertilizer stocks in place before the demand surge, while also emphasizing farmer freedom in choosing the grade of fertilizer without any compulsion. He cautioned against the unethical practice of tagging other products like nano fertilizers to fertilizer purchases, calling it unacceptable.
The state is also maintaining a strict vigil against the sale and black marketing of spurious fertilizers. Enforcement squads have been actively conducting surprise inspections of retail and wholesale outlets, taking action against violators to safeguard farmer interests.
Plans for establishing new rake points to streamline fertilizer distribution across Odisha were also discussed, aiming to minimize transit delays and improve rural supply chain efficiency. The government reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent and farmer-centric input delivery system during the ongoing agricultural season.