Centre Faces Flak Over Fertiliser Shortage in Karnataka

Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress general secretary, accuses the Centre of failing to supply sufficient fertilisers to Karnataka amidst an early monsoon. The state set high sowing targets for 2025–26 but is experiencing a shortage of urea, threatening agricultural productivity. Surjewala urges immediate action from the Centre.

Randeep Singh Surjewala, the Congress general secretary in charge of Karnataka, has raised concerns about the Centre's failure to meet the state's fertiliser requirements. This comes as Karnataka experiences an early monsoon, with rainfall slightly above normal, accelerating the sowing season.

Setting ambitious goals for the 2025–26 period, Karnataka aims to sow crops across 114.40 lakh hectares, targeting the production of 160.68 lakh tonnes of food grains and oilseeds. Surjewala noted a specific goal for the Kharif season, where 81.85 lakh hectares have been cultivated out of the 82.50 lakh hectares target.

Surjewala highlighted an acute shortfall, with a deficit of 3.36 lakh metric tonnes of urea fertiliser. He called on the central government to urgently release the pending fertiliser supplies to support Karnataka's farmers and safeguard agricultural productivity.

(With inputs from agencies.)