Bhubaneswar,23rd Aug 2025: From farmer registration to fertilizer supply, cultivators are facing one problem after another. Earlier, they had to struggle hard just to get registered. Now, after transplanting paddy, the shortage of fertilizer has made farmers shed tears. Across the state, farmers are staging sit-in protests in front of LAMPS and cooperative societies, demanding to know when fertilizers will be available — but they are not getting any answers.
The urea fertilizer that the government officially fixes at ₹266 per bag is being sold in the open market at ₹700 to ₹800. Farmers are unable to afford fertilizers at such inflated prices.
There is an acute shortage of urea fertilizer across the state — from Salepur to Sambalpur, Sundargarh to Koraput. Where 10 bags should have been available, farmers are only getting 1 bag.
This statewide crisis has left farmers distressed, while the government appears indifferent. As a result, farmer discontent is on the rise. On one hand, the government instructs agriculture officials to visit the fields, meet farmers, and resolve their problems. On the other hand, farmers, compelled by circumstances, are abandoning their fields during the crop season to join protests and agitations. Meanwhile, crops in many areas are on the verge of drying up.
In most PACS outlets, fertilizers are not available at all. Where stock is available, only one bag is being given upon showing an Aadhaar card. Farmers cultivating one or two acres are asking how they can meet their fertilizer requirements with just a single bag.
One PACS president, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that since the government is not supplying adequate fertilizer, such problems are arising everywhere.