Parliament Question: Fertilizer Shortage in Kerala

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 292 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21ST JULY, 2026 FERTILISER SHORTAGE IN KERALA

292. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

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 that during the Puncha paddy cultivation season (December 2025-Early 2026), farmers in Kuttanad and other parts of Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala faced a severe shortage of fertilizers, particularly urea, potash, and phosphate at the critical stage of crop growth, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether an allocation of about 43,000 tonnes of urea for the October-December 2025 quarter, only around 20,000 tonnes was supplied to Kerala, resulting in a substantial shortfall, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has assessed the impact of this shortage on paddy productivity, acreage and farmer incomes in the affected districts, if so, details thereof; and

(d) the corrective measures taken by the Government since then and the steps being implemented to ensure adequate and timely supply of all essential fertilizers to Kerala for the ongoing and forthcoming agricultural seasons? ANSWER 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) to (d): State Government of Kerala has informed that farmers in Kuttanad and other parts of Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram Districts in Kerala did not experience any shortage of fertilizers particularly urea, potash and phosphate at the critical stage of crop growth during Puncha paddy cultivation season (December 2025 to Early 2026) in Kerala.

As per Integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (IFMS) report, against the cumulative requirement of 39090 MT of urea during October- December 2025 in Kerala, the availability (opening stock + supply) of urea was 44680 MT. State Government of Kerala has further informed that since required quantity of Urea and other fertilizers were received during Rabi 2025 cropping season, paddy productivity, acreage and farmers income were not affected.

The Government of India in order to ensure the adequate availability of quality fertilizers to the farmers, assess the requirement of major fertilizers, namely urea, Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MOP), Complexes and Single Super Phosphate (SSP) fertilizers, before each cropping season (viz. Rabi and Kharif) in consultations with States.

Assessment is made based on agronomical requirement, soil health, cropping pattern, cropping area, previous sale etc. Based on assessed requirement of fertilizers, Department of Fertilizers, Government of India supplies fertilizers to states by preparing monthly supply plan and ensure seamless availability of fertilizers. The movement of all major subsidized fertilizers is monitored through IFMS. Regular monitoring is conducted with States including Kerala to monitor the supply position and corrective measure is taken as per requirement.

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