Naveen Patnaik Urges Centre to Ensure Fertiliser Supply to Odisha Farmers

Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Saturday urged the Centre to ensure adequate supply of fertiliser to Odisha during the ongoing kharif season, amid mounting protests from farmers in several districts.

Patnaik said that reports of scarcity of urea and other fertilisers have triggered distress among cultivators, particularly in the southern districts of Malkangiri, Ganjam and Nabarangpur, where farmers have already staged demonstrations demanding timely supply.

On Friday, farmers in Malkangiri blocked traffic on National Highway-326, disrupting vehicular movement for hours. Expressing concern over such developments, Patnaik appealed to the Union government to immediately intervene and make sufficient stock available to safeguard the interests of the farming community.

He also emphasised that any shortage during the crucial kharif season could severely affect agricultural output and deepen the crisis faced by small and marginal farmers.