Overview
- Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, who wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, asked the Centre to rush 3.83 lakh MT of urea, 1.05 lakh MT of DAP and 0.83 lakh MT of MOP for the rest of the 2026 Kharif season.
- The state reported that manufacturers missed the Union supply plan in April and May, leaving shortfalls of 39,001 MT of urea, 28,607 MT of DAP and 24,235 MT of MOP.
- Officials flagged an IMD forecast for Southwest Monsoon onset in the third week of May, which would quickly lift demand for urea and DAP as sowing starts across major crop areas.
- Tamil Nadu plans to plant 25 lakh hectares this season in a farm economy where over 40% of people rely on agriculture and 92% of farmers hold less than two hectares.
- DAP is a key phosphorus source and MOP supplies potassium, so shortages could delay sowing and dent yields unless allocations are restored, with the state awaiting a central response.