BENGALURU, 30 JULY

BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister JP Nadda has assured that 1.35 lakh metric tonnes of urea required for Karnataka will be supplied within the next 10 to 15 days.

The Haveri MP said he met Nadda and discussed the ongoing fertiliser shortage in the State.

"The minister immediately held discussions with officials and assured that action would be taken to ensure the supply of 1.35 lakh metric tonnes of urea to Karnataka," Bommai said.

He said instructions would be issued to companies like Coromandel and Madras Fertilisers, and supply would begin immediately.

"Today alone, 16,000 metric tonnes are being dispatched. A daily supply of 15,000 to 20,000 metric tonnes will continue," he added.

The former CM claimed farmers across the state are not receiving urea on time, adding that the issue is longstanding.

This year, due to a favourable monsoon and pre-monsoon showers, there has been a significant increase in maize cultivation, with acreage rising by 1.5 per cent, he said.

"The agriculture department is aware of this. Normally, demand for urea starts in July and extends through August, but rains began in the third week of June this year, advancing the demand," he noted.

Bommai claimed that "repeated rainfall has forced farmers to apply urea multiple times, significantly increasing their financial burden."