Farmers today staged a demonstration in front the Office of the District Agricultural Officer here demanding adequate supply of urea fertiliser for the ongoing Rabi crop.
Urea is neither available with the dealers nor with the cooperative societies in the district, the farmers said.
A total of 9,500 metric tonne fertiliser is required for the Rabi crop in Sambalpur district, official sources said adding that so far only 4,600 metric tonne has been supplied to the dealers and societies in the district.
As paddy is grown all over the district during Kharif, the demand of fertiliser increases many fold. But paddy is grown in limited area in the district during the Rabi season.
"The farmer generally avail sufficient fertiliser during Rabi crop. But this is for the first time scarcity of urea has hit the farmers during the Rabi crop", said general convenor of Paschim Odisha Krushak Sangathan, Ashok Pradhan.
Urea should be applied within 15 days of transplantation and the time to apply the fertiliser has come, but urea is not available in the district, he said.
District Agriculture Officials admitted that the farmers are facing the problem.
"We have already informed our higher officials. The fertiliser will arrive shortly. We are hopeful that the problem will be resolved by March 2," officials said.
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