This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2254 regarding urea shortages in Telangana, answered on August 1, 2025, by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Smt. Anupriya Patel. The response addresses concerns raised by Shri Madhavaneni Raghunandan Rao.
The Ministry asserts that the availability of urea in Telangana has been adequate during the ongoing Kharif 2025 season. An annexure provides detailed data on the requirement, availability, and sales of urea, DAP, MoP, and NPKS fertilizers in Telangana from 2015-16 to 2024-25.
The response also addresses concerns about artificial shortages. Fertilizers are classified as essential commodities under the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985, and the Fertilizer Movement Control Order, 1973. State governments are empowered under the FCO and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, to prevent black marketing, hoarding, and diversion of fertilizers, and to take action against violations. Complaints received by the Department of Fertilizers regarding artificial shortages are forwarded to the State Government for necessary action.
Key data points from the annexure (figures in LMT):
* **Urea:** Requirement in 2024-25 was 20.20, Availability was 22.15, and Sales were 20.08. Over the past ten years, availability has generally exceeded requirement, and availability has also generally exceeded sales.
* **DAP:** Requirement in 2024-25 was 3.90, Availability was 3.91, and Sales were 3.64.
* **MOP:** Requirement in 2024-25 was 1.30, Availability was 1.44, and Sales were 1.14.
* **NPKS:** Requirement in 2024-25 was 17.00, Availability was 17.54, and Sales were 14.97.
Key Entities Referenced
Telangana: A state in India, focus of the urea shortage question.
Urea: A nitrogen-based fertilizer, subject of the shortage inquiry.
SHRI MADHAVANENI RAGHUNANDAN RAO: Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) who raised the question about urea shortage.
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS: The Indian government ministry responsible for fertilizer policy.
SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers who provided the answer.
Fertilizer Control Order, 1985: A regulatory order in India governing the quality, distribution, and sale of fertilizers.
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: An act of the Parliament of India that ensures the supply of certain commodities, including fertilizers.
Fertilizer Movement Control Order, 1973: A regulatory order controlling the movement of fertilizers to ensure equitable distribution.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2254 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 01.08.2025
Shortage of Urea in Telangana
2254: SHRI MADHAVANENI RAGHUNANDAN RAO:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) whether there is a shortage of urea in Telangana, if so, the details thereof
indicating the quantum of fertilizers allocated to the State during the last ten years; and
(b) whether there is an artificial shortage being created in the State, if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) The availability of Urea in the State of Telangana has remained adequate
during the ongoing Kharif-2025 season. Further, the information regarding the
requirement, availability and sales of fertilizers i.e. Urea, DAP, MoP and NPKS during
the last ten years in Telangana is placed at Annexure.
(b) Fertilizer is declared as an essential commodity and is notified under Fertilizer
Control Order, 1985 and Fertilizer (Movement Control) Order, 1973. State
Governments are adequately empowered under FCO to stop black
marketing/hoarding/diversion of fertilizers, which cause artificial shortage, and to take
punitive action against any person/fertilizer company involved in such malpractices
by violating the provisions of Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and Fertilizer Control
Order 1985 (FCO). Any complaint received at D/o Fertilizers level regarding artificial
shortage is sent to the State Government for necessary action.
*******Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2254 to be answered on 01.08.2025
TELANGANA
YEAR-WISE REQUIREMENT, AVAILABILITY & SALES OF FERTILIZERS FROM 2015-16 TO 2024-25
<Figures in LMT>
UREA DAP MOP NPKS
YEAR
REQUIR- AVAILA- SALES REQUIR- AVAILA- SALES REQUIR- AVAILA- SALES REQUIR- AVAILA- SALES
EMENT BILITY EMENT BILITY EMENT BILITY EMENT BILITY
2015-16 14.29 13.35 12.56 3.50 2.20 2.12 1.75 1.06 1.00 9.50 8.77 8.53
2016-17 13.90 16.73 15.49 2.90 2.56 2.43 1.70 1.81 1.74 9.40 9.90 9.64
2017-18 13.80 14.70 14.02 2.60 2.67 2.53 1.80 2.11 2.06 9.00 11.30 10.17
2018-19 15.00 16.87 13.83 3.20 3.08 2.23 2.60 1.77 1.41 10.50 14.65 10.51
2019-20 15.50 19.21 15.20 3.20 3.34 2.32 2.60 2.26 1.71 11.60 16.26 12.21
2020-21 19.50 22.20 17.54 2.70 3.62 3.14 2.60 3.00 2.47 13.50 18.38 15.18
2021-22 19.00 19.19 17.12 4.20 3.14 2.98 3.10 1.50 1.39 18.60 15.07 13.24
2022-23 18.39 21.63 18.83 3.55 4.70 3.71 2.27 0.86 0.74 15.16 16.24 12.90
2023-24 18.94 23.77 19.03 3.80 4.34 3.68 2.00 1.18 0.92 15.99 17.09 13.62
2024-25 20.20 22.15 20.08 3.90 3.91 3.64 1.30 1.44 1.14 17.00 17.54 14.97
1. Primary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Requirement
2. Secondary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Sales
3. Availability from 2014-15 to 2017-18 is the sum total of Opening Stock, Indigenous production and Import. Further Availability from 2018-19 to
2024-25 is the sum of Opening