Karnataka and Kerala heading for major shortage of chemical fertilizers
Factories reportedly going slow on production Steep increase in fertilizer prices in international market Karnataka and Kerala are stated to be heading for a major shortage of chemical fertilizers during the ensuing kharif season with the Union Government yet to finalise the fertilizer prices and consequently the factories going slow on production. Sources in the State Secretariat told The Hindu that the authorities here are in touch with their counterparts in Kerala to finalise a joint move to impress on the Union Government to act with speed failing which it could have serious repercussions in the rural areas arising out of fertilizer shortage. The kharif sowing season normally starts around the same time in Karnataka and Kerala with the southwest monsoon setting in the region more or less around the same time. Fixing fertilizer prices and the quantum of fertilizer subsidy go hand-in-hand and a committee of Secretaries of the Union Government is stated to be pondering over this matter at length following the steep increase in fertilizer prices in the international market .The escalating prices of key inputs in the manufacture of phosphatic fertilizers is stated as one of the factors for the delay. Governor Rameshwar Thakur, during a recent visit to New Delhi, is stated to have impressed upon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the need to ensure adequate fertilizer supplies to Karnataka in time. A similar request has also been made to Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Ram Vilas Paswan. The State faced a fertilizer shortage during the last rabi season. When compared with a projected demand of 15.39 lakh tonnes the supply was only 7.18 lakh tonnes. Kharif accounts for nearly 70 per cent of the agricultural production with the rest coming from the rabi crop. Normally, the exercise of building up fertilizer stocks by the authorities commences in the last week of February and the despatch to the dealers commences in the last week of March well ahead of the kharif season, which commences in April. The State has to also ensure the availability of railway wagons to transport fertilizer from the factories to all parts of the State. Unlike Kerala which has a major fertilizer factory (FACT), the only fertilizer plant in Karnataka (Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers-MCF) manufactures only urea. Sources told The Hindu that "the situation is alarming because the fertilizer industry as a whole has not taken any concrete step to produce and stock. We are anxiously waiting with our fingers crossed.'