Farmers Camp Outside Distribution Centre to Get Urea

KOPPAL

A severe shortage of urea fertiliser is impacting farmers in Kalyana Karnataka, prompting many to camp overnight outside the Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Society (PACS) offices in a desperate attempt to secure fertilisers for their crops. Many farmers from Mudaballi village in Koppal taluk spent the night outside the PACS, hoping for distribution of urea the next morning.

With monsoon rains supporting the growth of standing crops, the demand for urea has skyrocketed. However, a substantial disparity between demand and supply has left farmers throughout the district in a difficult position. Reports of black-market sales at inflated prices are emerging from various areas. On Tuesday morning, urea distribution commenced at 7am at the Mudaballi PACS, but only 200 to 300 bags were available, while nearly 700–800 farmers waited anxiously. This resulted in noticeable frustration and disappointment among the farming community.

Local farmers have pointed to the government's inability to deliver supplies on time and have criticised society officials for inadequate stock levels. Even with the pressing demand for fertilisers, the cooperative has failed to accumulate enough, and the government is not providing sufficient quantities, remarked Dr Basavaraj Kyavatar, a member of the state executive committee of the BJP.

“The situation highlighted the pressing need for improved fertiliser stock management and timely delivery, particularly during this critical agricultural season,” Dr Kyavatar said. According to district Agriculture Joint Director T Rudreshappa, the total sowing target for the 2025-26 monsoon season in the taluk was 75,628 hectares. Of this, 38,000 hectares of cotton has been sown, which is 10 percent more than the target, while only 10 percent of the target of 16,000 hectares of paddy has been sown thus far. Farmers are excessively using urea for both of these crops.