Why Is Telangana Facing Urea Shortage At The Peak Of The Kharif Season?

Telangana is facing a Urea shortage at the peak of the Kharif Season. Undoubtedly, the issue has turned into a fierce political battle between Congress, BRS and BJP. The scarcity has made farmers concerned, as the political leaders are playing the blame game

Multiple factors are behind the Urea Shortage

There are multiple factors behind the Urea Shortage in the state. These are delays in imports, rising consumption, expansion of cultivation, black marketing and disruptions in domestic production. According to official data, the Union government has given 9.8 lakh metric tonnes of urea to Telangana for Kharif 2025, of which 8.3 LMT was required till August. Surprisingly, the state has received 5.42 LMT, leaving a shortfall of 2.88 LMT so far.
 Moreover, authorities highlighted that various states are facing similar shortages due to global supply constraints. Rising natural gas prices have increased international prices, whereas supply chain disruptions caused by tensions in West Asia have deepened the crisis.

What about China and fertiliser exports?

Notably, China has reduced the fertiliser exports to India in recent years. However, some reports have suggested that China has eased curbs on urea shipments to India. Shockingly, Telangana Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao accused the Centre of failing to import urea from China despite urgent demand. Since Domestic production has been inconsistent. Furthermore, Ramagundam Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited (RFCL) has functioned on only 78 out of 145 scheduled days between April and August due to gas leaks and technical glitches. On the other hand, the Talcher Fertiliser Plant in Odisha has been running below capacity, while no urea production has been done on the part of Nagarjuna Fertilisers and Chemicals.