Overview

• In an August 29 letter to Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister J.P. Nadda, the BJD chief sought immediate central action to secure adequate urea for the ongoing Kharif season.
• Farmers report scarcity, higher-than-approved prices and protests across western and southern districts including Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Sundargarh and Bargarh.
• Patnaik alleged black marketing and adulteration in the supply chain and accused MARKFED of diverting subsidised fertiliser to private traders instead of farmers.
• The farmers’ group Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan blamed hoarding and a nexus of officials and traders for scarcity and inflated rates.
• Deputy Chief Minister K.V. Singh Deo vowed zero-tolerance on adulteration, while Patnaik flagged delays at the Talcher fertiliser plant and no specific central response yet.