Farmers struggle with ‘Fertilizer App’ amid urea shortages in Telangana

As the Rabi season gains momentum in Telangana, farmers are facing fresh headaches due to urea shortages. The state government introduced a ‘Fertilizer App’ to streamline urea distribution and prevent misuse, but technical glitches at the ground level are leaving farmers frustrated.

The government’s goal is to ensure that genuine farmers receive urea in a fair and transparent manner, limiting distribution to three bags per acre. However, the app often malfunctions, causing delays in delivery at a time when fertilizers are crucial for crop growth. Farmers report long queues at distribution centers, delaying fieldwork and risking crop damage.

Farmers say that instead of simplifying the process, the app has made it more cumbersome. They are urging the government to either fix the app promptly or provide alternative ways to deliver urea quickly. Opposition parties have also raised the issue in the state assembly, demanding that sufficient urea stocks be made available in time for sowing, without causing inconvenience to farmers.

In Nallagunta, Venkatapur Mandal of Mulugu district, farmers reportedly stopped fieldwork due to urea shortages. Local farmers claimed they were allowed only one bag per acre, which is insufficient for their needs. Women farmers expressed concern that their crops could be lost if the situation continues.

Despite the complaints, the government says Telangana currently has 2.48 lakh metric tonnes of urea in stock at warehouses and dealer centers. For the 2025-26 Rabi season, the Centre allocated 10.40 lakh metric tonnes to the state , of which 2.15 lakh metric tonnes are already ready for distribution. Officials stress that there is no shortage and farmers need not worry, as stocks are being sent to distribution centers based on demand.

For the 2025 Kharif season, Telangana received 10.28 lakh metric tonnes of urea, slightly exceeding the estimated requirement of 9.8 lakh metric tonnes. This ensured smooth crop growth across the state, without any urea shortages.

Urea distribution has been a recurring challenge in Telangana. Under the BRS government (2014-2023), shortages were usually short-lived and localized, often occurring only when crop areas expanded unexpectedly or when railway shipments were delayed. Advance stock management and district-level adjustments helped keep the problem under control, limiting farmer dissatisfaction.

Under the current Congress government (2023-present), stocks are sufficient, but distribution issues - especially technical problems with the Fertilizer App - have created widespread delays. The strict one-bag-per-acre rule has led to long waiting times at Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS) centers, amplifying farmer frustration.

While Telangana has enough urea in storage, technical and procedural hurdles are preventing farmers from accessing it efficiently. Unlike the BRS era, when shortages were brief and manageable, the current system is causing prolonged inconvenience, making it a major topic of discussion among farmers and in the media.