Hyderabad: The fertilizer shortage in Telangana has escalated into a major political issue, with BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao accusing both the Congress-led state government and the BJP-led Union government of mishandling the supply. He said the crisis reflected a lack of planning that has left lakhs of farmers across districts in distress.
KTR shared the photo of a schoolboy standing in a long queue for fertilizer instead of attending classes, calling it “heartbreaking.” He argued that such images symbolize systemic failures in ensuring timely agricultural inputs. According to him, both the governments ignored advance planning for fertilizer distribution, creating chaos at cooperative outlets and leading to frustration among farmers.
Political blame game over fertilizer shortage
The BRS leader stated that while shortages have occurred earlier, this year’s fertilizer shortage is particularly severe due to poor governance and weak coordination. “Agriculture is the backbone of Telangana’s economy. Denying farmers timely access to inputs affects productivity, income, and dignity of rural households,” KTR said.
Farmers in several districts including Nalgonda, Karimnagar and Nizamabad have reported waiting for hours at centres, often returning empty-handed. Opposition leaders argue that the shortage has also exposed gaps in coordination between state and central agencies responsible for supply management.
Farmers’ demand for solutions
Farmer unions have urged both the Telangana government and the Centre to ensure buffer stock planning and real-time monitoring of distribution. Experts note that advance procurement and digital tracking of supplies could reduce such crises.
For context, Telangana’s agriculture heavily depends on fertilizers during the Kharif season, particularly for crops like paddy and maize. Any disruption in timely supply directly impacts yields.
