Farmers in Karnataka may face a shortage of fertilizers in the upcoming kharif season, Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy indicated on Monday.
Participating in a Meet-the-Press event organized by the Press Club of Bangalore, the Minister revealed that the Central government has been supplying less than the allocated quota of fertilizers to the state for the past two months .
Supply deficit in April and May
According to Cheluvarayaswamy, in April 2026, out of the allocated 4.02 lakh tonnes of various grades of fertilizers, only 2.54 lakh tonnes were supplied by the Central government, leaving a deficit of 1.48 lakh tonnes.
For May, the situation has not improved. Out of the allocated 4.54 lakh tonnes, only 1.77 lakh tonnes have been supplied so far, while another 2.77 lakh tonnes remain pending .
“Due to this, there is a possibility of shortage of fertilizers in the kharif season. This may also be due to the current instability in the import of fertilizers,” the Minister said.
Impact of West Asia crisis
The Minister noted that the ongoing West Asian crisis has created instability in the global fertilizer market. There has been a surge in demand for raw materials required for fertilizer production, including ammonia, liquefied natural gas (LNG), phosphoric acid, sulphuric acid, and other byproducts .
These disruptions have affected the supply chain, making it difficult for the state to receive its full quota of fertilizers ahead of the crucial monsoon sowing period .
Government’s preparedness measures
Despite the supply challenges, Cheluvarayaswamy assured that the state government is taking measures to manage the potential shortage. A buffer stock of 56,199 tonnes of various grades of fertilizers is currently being maintained to meet any emergency demand during the peak farming season .
The Minister also warned fertilizer vendors against creating artificial scarcity or selling fertilizers in excess of required quantities. He stated that appropriate steps have been taken under the Fertilizers (Control) Order, 1985, and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 .
Monitoring and enforcement
Government officials have been directed to coordinate with the Commercial Taxes Department at inter-state check-posts to curb illegal transportation and smuggling of fertilizers. A mobile application has also been developed to facilitate the seamless purchase of urea by farmers .
The Agriculture Department and district magistrates have been asked to strictly monitor the distribution process to ensure equitable distribution of subsidized fertilizers across all districts .
Call for sustainable farming
Cheluvarayaswamy also urged farmers to increasingly explore green manure and compost, venture into natural and organic farming, and reduce their over-dependence on chemical fertilizers as a long-term solution to such supply uncertainties .
The upcoming weeks will be critical as the state prepares for the kharif sowing season, with farmers hoping that the supply situation improves before the monsoon arrives.
