**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer given by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to Unstarred Question No. 618 in the Lok Sabha on February 3rd, 2026, regarding fertilizer shortages and agricultural issues in Kerala. It addresses concerns about fertilizer availability, climate change impacts, Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for Kharif crops, and paddy seed shortages in Kerala. The document primarily provides information and clarifications rather than outlining specific action items.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Fertilizer Shortage:**
* The State Government of Kerala reports no fertilizer shortage (Urea, Murate of Potash, Phosphatic) in the Alappuzha district, including Kuttanad, during the 2025-26 season due to advance planning and timely availability.
* Consequently, no crop loss due to fertilizer shortage has been reported.
* **Impact of Climate Change:**
* An independent study report regarding a landslide that affected the parts of Wayanad and Kozhikode districts during July 2024 has been submitted in the Legislative Assembly of Kerala by Environment Committee consisting of Hon'ble Members of Legislative Assembly.
* Crop loss data (April 1, 2021 - January 28, 2026) due to climate change is as follows:
* Landslides: 1443 farmers affected, crop loss of ₹23,967,727
* Floods: 14641 farmers affected, crop loss of ₹148,971,006
* Heavy Rain: 20791 farmers affected, crop loss of ₹138,897,792
* Cyclones: 7963 farmers affected, crop loss of ₹75,306,142
* Heavy Wind: 4594 farmers affected, crop loss of ₹43,432,133
* **Minimum Support Price (MSP):**
* The Government of Kerala has adopted and implemented the MSPs for Kharif crops for the 2025-26 agricultural season, as announced by the Government of India.
* Paddy procurement in Kerala is carried out by Supplyco in coordination with the Food Corporation of India (FCI), as per guidelines.
* Current MSP for paddy: ₹2,300 per quintal for common variety and ₹2,320 per quintal for Grade 'A' variety, plus a State Incentive Bonus of ₹630 per quintal, resulting in a total procurement price of ₹3,000 per quintal.
* Delays in disbursement of paddy procurement payments have been reported due to procedural and operational constraints and reconciliation of past liabilities. Disbursements up to January 15, 2026, have been effected.
* The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare fixes MSPs for twenty-two mandated crops for the entire country and not for region-specific requirements. Details of MSP for the last two years are provided in Annexure-I.
* **Paddy Seed Availability:**
* There is no reported shortage of paddy seeds in Kerala, with 1.243 lakh quintals of certified/quality paddy seeds available against the requirement of 1.243 lakh quintals during 2025-26.
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare assesses seed requirements and availability through zonal seed meetings with states and agencies.
* The Government of Kerala provides certified paddy seeds free of cost to farmers via the Registered Seed Growers Programme (RSGP).
* Seed inspectors are empowered to check seed quality under the Seeds Act, 1966, and related rules and orders. Actions are taken against substandard seeds, including cancellation of dealer licenses, seizure of stock, and prosecution.
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers in Kerala**
* **Impact:** Provides clarity on fertilizer availability, climate change impact on crops, MSP rates for paddy, and paddy seed availability.
* **Action Required:** Farmers may need to review MSP rates and procurement processes, understand the actions being taken regarding quality of seeds and report seed issues to seed inspectors, and take note of government measures regarding fertilizer availability and climate change impact.
**State Government of Kerala**
* **Impact:** Recognizes the efforts of the State Government in ensuring fertilizer availability and implementing MSP.
* **Action Required:** Continue implementing the Registered Seed Growers Programme and Seed quality check under the Seeds Act, 1966, Seed Rules, 1968, the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983.
**Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare**
* **Impact:** Recognizes the efforts of the department in assessing seed requirements and availability.
* **Action Required:** To continue assessing the requirement and availability of seeds with States and other agencies through zonal seeds meetings organised periodically prior to each cropping seasons.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: Primary ministry responsible for addressing the question on fertilizer shortage, climate change impact, and MSP in the context of agriculture in Kerala.
Minimum Support Price (MSP): Policy mechanism for procurement of crops (particularly Kharif crops) at government-fixed prices; its revisions, payments, and disbursement issues are a key focus of the question.
Kerala: The specific geographical location where fertilizer shortages, climate change impacts on agriculture, and MSP-related issues are being addressed in the context of this policy document.
Seeds Act, 1966: Law governing seed quality, sale and inspection to curb spurious seeds.
Registered Seed Growers Programme (RSGP): A rice development scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 618
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 03RD FEBRUARY, 2026
FERTILISER SHORTAGE IN KERALA
618. SHRI K C VENUGOPAL:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the severe fertiliser shortage, particularly urea, potash,
and phosphate, affecting Kuttanad and other regions in Alappuzha district during the 2025-26
season, leading to potential crop losses for farmers, if so, the reasons for the shortage;
(b) whether the Ministry has assessed the impact of climate change on Kerala's agriculture,
including losses from landslides, floods, and monsoons, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of Minimum Support Price (MSP) revisions for Kharif crops in 2025-26,including
delays in MSP payments to Kerala farmers, and measures to ensure timely disbursement
revised support schemes for coconut farmers; and
(d) the steps being taken to address paddy seed shortages ahead of the planting season,
including quality concerns raised from the farmers ?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a): State Government of Kerala has informed that fertilizer shortage particularly Urea,
Murate of Potash, Phosphatic fertilizers has not been reported during 2025-26 from
Alappuzha district including Kuttanaad and other regions because requirement of fertilizers
was planned in advance and timely fertilizer availability was ensured. Hence, crop loss due
to shortage of fertilizers has also not been reported.(b): Independent study report regarding landslide that affected the parts of Wayanad and
Kozhikode districts during July 2024, has been submitted in the Legislative Assembly of
Kerala by Environment Committee consisting of Hon'ble Members of Legislative Assembly.
The details of crop loss as informed by State Government due to climate change on Kerala
Agriculture (01/04/2021 to 28/01/2026) is shown below:
Particulars Number of farmers affected Crop loss (Rs)
Landslides 1443 23967727
Floods 14641 148971006
Heavy rain 20791 138897792
Cyclones 7963 75306142
Heavy wind 4594 43432133
(c): The Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for Kharif crops for the agricultural season 2025-26,
as announced by the Government of India, have been adopted by the Government of Kerala
and implemented through the State’s procurement mechanism. In Kerala, procurement of
paddy at MSP is carried out through State-designated agency namely Supplyco in
coordination with the Food Corporation of India (FCI), as per prescribed guidelines. At
present, paddy is procured at the Minimum Support Price of ₹2,300 per quintal for Common
variety and ₹2,320 per quintal for Grade ‘A’ variety, along with a State Incentive Bonus of
₹630 per quintal, ensuring a total procurement price of ₹3,000 per quintal to farmers. Delay
in disbursement of paddy procurement payments to farmers has been reported in certain
instances during recent seasons, arising from procedural and operational constraints within
the existing procurement framework. In addition, settlement of liabilities carried over under
the Paddy Receipt Sheet (PRS) loan mechanism from earlier seasons has required
reconciliation, which has had an impact on the timing of payments in some cases. However,
disbursements due up to 15.01.2026 have been effected. Further, Govt. of India, Ministry of
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare fixes MSPs for twenty-two mandated crops, for the country as a
whole and not region specific. The details of MSP for the last two years are at Annexure-I.(d): In Kerala, 1.243 lakh quintals of certified / quality paddy seeds is available against the
requirement of 1.243 lakh quintals during 2025-26. Therefore, no shortage of paddy seeds in
Kerala was reported. To ensure availability of quality seeds including paddy to farmers,
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India assesses the requirement
and availability of seeds with States and other agencies through zonal seeds meetings organised
periodically prior to each cropping seasons. Government of Kerala supplies certified paddy
seeds free of cost to farmers across the State through the Registered Seed Growers
Programme (RSGP), implemented as a key component of the Rice Development Scheme. To
regulate the quality of seeds, the provisions are available in the Seeds Act, 1966, the Seed
Rules, 1968, the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983. The above, said legislations empowered the
State Governments to appoint seed inspectors to check the quality and curb the sale of
spurious seeds. In case any seeds samples are found to be substandard, action is taken
namely, cancelation of dealer license, seizure of the stock, issuance of warning, stop sale order
and prosecution etc.Annexure-I
Minimum Support Price
(Marketing Season-wise)(₹/quintal)
Sr. Commodities KMS 2024-25 KMS 2025-26
No.
KHARIF CROPS
Paddy (Common) 2300 2369
1 Paddy (Grade ‘A’) 2320 2389
2 Jowar (Hybrid) 3371 3699
Jowar (Maldandi) 3421 3749
3 Bajra 2625 2775
4 Ragi 4290 4886
5 Maize 2225 2400
6 Arhar 7550 8000
7 Moong 8682 8768
8 Urad 7400 7800
9 Cotton 7121 7710
(Medium Staple )
Cotton 7521 8110
(Long Staple )
10 Groundnut 6783 7263
11 Sunflower Seed 7280 7721
12 Soyabean Yellow 4892 5328
13 Sesamum 9267 9846
14 Nigerseed 8717 9537
RABI CROPS RMS 2025-26 RMS 2026-27
15 Wheat 2425 2585
16 Barley 1980 2150
17 Gram 5650 5875
18 Masur 6700 7000
19 Rapeseed & mustard 5950 6200
20 Safflower 5940 6540
COMMERCIAL CROPS
2024-25 2025-26
21 Jute 5335 5650
2025 2026
Copra (milling) 11582 12027
22 Copra (ball)
12100 12500
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