Bengaluru, June 14: Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Prahlad Joshi has firmly rejected allegations made by Congress leaders in Karnataka regarding a fertilizer shortage for farmers. He stated that there is an adequate supply of urea, DAP, and NPK fertilizers for the Kharif 2026 season in the state.
In a strong statement, the central minister claimed that the assertions made by the Karnataka Congress government are misleading and contradict official data. He further noted that despite global supply disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions and export restrictions from major producing countries, the central government has made every effort to ensure a steady supply of fertilizers to Karnataka.
Joshi emphasized that the facts clearly indicate no shortage of fertilizers in Karnataka. The central government has ensured a supply far exceeding the state’s needs and is continuously monitoring the situation.
As of June 10, the proportional requirement for urea for Karnataka’s Kharif crop was 313,000 metric tons (LMT), while the center has ensured the availability of 559,000 metric tons of urea. Even after sales, the state has a stock of over 329,000 metric tons of urea, which includes quantities currently in transit.
Similarly, the proportional requirement for DAP was 189,000 metric tons, with an availability of 257,000 metric tons, leaving a stock of 116,000 metric tons, including quantities in transit. For NPK fertilizers, the requirement was 436,000 metric tons, while availability reached 928,000 metric tons, with a current stock of 561,000 metric tons.
Joshi noted that during the previous Rabi season, Karnataka received significantly more fertilizer supply than needed. The requirement for urea was 760,000 metric tons, while the center supplied 1,048,000 metric tons. Likewise, DAP availability reached 419,000 metric tons against a requirement of 198,000 metric tons, and NPK availability rose to 1,352,000 metric tons compared to a demand of 720,000 metric tons.
The minister attributed the pressure on global fertilizer availability to geopolitical conflicts involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, as well as reduced exports from major suppliers like China. Despite these challenges, India has maintained sufficient fertilizer stocks by increasing domestic production and timely imports.
However, Joshi pointed out that there has been an unusual increase in fertilizer sales in Karnataka in recent months. The sales of DAP and NPK fertilizers have risen significantly compared to last year, while fertilizer consumption during the Rabi season exceeded estimated requirements. He indicated that this has impacted the available stock in the state.
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