New Delhi: Urging the farmers not to hoard the commodities on shortage rumours, Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday said there will be more than adequate supply of crop nutrients in November.
Mandaviya, through a video message posted on Twitter, asked the state governments to take strict action against the hoarders and those engaged in black marketing.
Asserting that he held a meeting with the Department of Fertilisers’ officials to review the availability of fertilisers across the country, he said the sowing of rabi crops, including wheat and mustard, has already begun from last month.
The Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister also rubbished the shortage rumours and said the department has made plans to make available 76 lakh tonnes of urea for November as against the demand of 41 lakh tonnes by the states.
Asserting 18 lakh tonnes of DAP has been made available as against the projected demand of 17 lakh tonnes, Mandaviya said: “The government has made arrangements to supply more fertilisers than required in November. Hence, I appeal to all farmers not to get carried away by rumours of shortage and request not to hoard fertilisers”, PTI reported.
The Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister also asked the states to take strict action against hoarding and black marketing of fertilisers while stating he has got information from various states about the fertilisers’ black marketing.
Mandaviya’s remarks come as the Centre is making available fertilisers, namely urea and 24 grades of P&K (phosphatic and potassic) fertilisers, to the farmers at subsidised prices through manufacturers and importers.