"It is matter of serious concern that instead of encouraging farmers, the recent policies of the government of India on pricing and supply of chemical fertilisers have caused a great deal of imbalance leading to widespread resentment," Patnaik said in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Expressing fear that the present policies would have adverse impact on the foodgrain production, Patnaik said adequate and balanced use of fertiliser by farmers would go a long way in increasing the productivity of foodgrain.
Claiming that Odisha had been making significant contribution to the food security of the nation, the chief minister pointed out that except urea, the prices of other major fertilisers like Di Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MOP) and Complex fertilisers have increased by more than 100 per cent since April 1, 2011.
"As a result, our small and marginal farmers are unable to afford the balanced use of chemical fertilisers," Patnaik wrote in the letter adding that even Urea was not being supplied to Odisha in adequate quantities despite specific allocations by the Centre for kharif-2012.
Though the Ministry of Chemical and Fertiliser committed to supply 4.5 lakh MT Urea during April-September, 2012, actual supply till August 23, 2012 was only 1.99 lakh MT, which was less than half of what was promised to the state, Patnaik said. More