Fertiliser Fury: Naveen Patnaik Demands Centre's Immediate Action
Odisha's opposition leader, Naveen Patnaik, urges the Centre to address the fertilizer shortage disrupting agriculture in the state. Farmers protest in southern districts due to a lack of urea supply. Patnaik highlights inefficiencies in the supply chain and calls for a crackdown on black marketing.
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- India
Naveen Patnaik, Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, has called for the Centre's intervention in addressing the ongoing fertiliser scarcity affecting the state's farmers. The issue has led to protests in districts like Malkangiri, Ganjam, and Nabarangpur, impacting traffic on National Highway-326.
In a letter to Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister JP Nadda, Patnaik emphasized the essential role of urea in agriculture, particularly during the khariff season, which employs over 70% of Odisha's population. He criticized the short supply and black marketing of urea, urging for strict actions against those responsible.
Despite claims of adequate urea stocks, farmers struggle with inflated prices and mismanagement in distribution. Patnaik noted the stalled Talcher fertiliser plant exacerbates the issue and called for immediate reforms to protect the livelihoods of Odisha's farming community.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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