Gujarat Government finally acts on Urea shortages faced by farmers

Surat | Gujarat — After a ground report by The Blunt Times exposed the severe shortage of urea in Surat district, the Gujarat state government has taken swift and decisive action to address the crisis. In response, the state announced that 8,000 to 10,000 metric tons of fertilizer will now be made available daily from the central government. The move aims to ensure that farmers across the state, particularly in severely affected regions like Surat, receive timely access to fertilizers during the crucial sowing period.

Blunt Times Report Triggers Urgent State Response

The news of the fertilizer shortage created ripples across Gujarat’s agricultural communities. The TBT report highlighted the difficulties faced by farmers amid dwindling supplies, especially in Surat. The government’s prompt reaction demonstrates the power of timely journalism in bringing systemic issues to light.

“After the issue was highlighted by the media, the government immediately coordinated with the Centre to increase fertilizer allotments,” said a farmer leader in Surat.

Sowing Lags Behind Amid Fertilizer Woes

This year, Gujarat has witnessed sowing on only 82.35% of its cultivable area. While last year saw 73.72 lakh hectares sown, this year the figure has dropped to 70.47 lakh hectares. Crops like sorghum have seen a steep decline, with only 5,000 hectares sown this year compared to 15,000 hectares last year.

Conversely, groundnut and oilseed cultivation have increased, with 20.41 lakh hectares and 25.75 lakh hectares sown respectively. Cotton, paddy, and pulses have also seen significant fluctuations due to fertilizer supply challenges.

Control Rooms, Crackdown on Black Marketing

To tackle the crisis, the state has established control rooms at the state, district, and taluka levels to collect farmer complaints and coordinate real-time responses. A special officer of the rank of Additional Collector has been appointed to ensure there is no hoarding or black marketing of fertilizer.

Minister Patel emphasized, “Strict action will be taken against anyone involved in black marketing or price gouging. Every taluka and district will receive fertilizers as per the planned allocation.”

Appeal to Farmers: Don’t Panic Buy

The Agriculture Minister urged farmers not to panic or hoard fertilizers. “Buy only what is necessary. The supply is being managed and will remain steady,” he said.

Additionally, farmers have been advised to adopt crop-specific fertilizer alternatives, such as ammonium sulfate for paddy and to avoid excessive urea usage in groundnut cultivation.