Report by OD bureau; Bhubaneswar: Agriculture Minister Debi Prasad Mishra reviewed the fertilizer situation today. So far this year the State has received a total of 406585 MTs of all kinds of fertilizers up to 26th August, 2012. In the same period last year the total fertilizers received was 587190 MTs up to 31st August, 2011. Therefore, this year there is a shortfall of fertilizer supply.

Moreover, according to the Government of India allocation, the State has to receive 690460 MTs of all kind fertilizers up to 26th August, 2012 as against the actual receipt is only 406585 MTs. Therefore, approximately 283875 MTs have not been supplied according to the allocation and 380395 MTs is deficit as per requirement / commitment.

At present, it is expected that the State will receive around 25,000 MTs urea before 31st August, 2012 thus improving the fertilizer situation in the State. It is also seen that the State is due to receive about 65,000 MTs urea in the ports of Vishakapatnam, Kakinada, Gangavaram. This stock will take at least 10 more days to reach the State. Thus the stock will be available to the farmers after 10th September, 2012.

The Minister further reviewed the situation of railway rake points and it was decided to take the relevant issues with the East Coast Railway. So far in the State, the Directorate of Agriculture & Food Production, Odisha had taken up 1892 numbers of enforcement/ inspection/ verification/ checking and raids on fertilizer dealers and wholesalers on its own.
Another 30 numbers of raids jointly with the Director, Vigilance as a result so far 105 numbers of stop sale notices have been issued, 14 nos. of stock have been seized, 17 nos. of licenses have been cancelled, 32 nos. of licenses suspended and 6 nos. of FIR have been filed with the police and the Directorate is taking up steps to ensure timely and fair supply of the fertilizers to the farmers. Among others the Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Director, Agriculture & Food Production and other Department officers were present in the meeting.