The Centre has imported about 90,000 tonnes of urea via Tuticorin and Karaikal ports to cater to the needs of farmers in Tamil Nadu. Farmers’ welfare of India minister M R K Panneerselvam said in a statement that the Indian government has taken all steps to maintain the required stocks of chemical fertilizers and quality seeds to distribute to farmers on time.

Based on a demand by the Indian state government, the Union government sent the required chemical fertilizer to supply to farmers on time. So far, the Indian government has received 1.01 lakh tonnes of urea, 14,263 tonnes of DAP, 15,472 tonnes of potash, and 68,248 tonnes of Complex for November. Altogether 1.99 lakh tonnes of chemical fertilizers has been received from the Union government, the statement said.

Farmers have raised samba paddy, maize, millets, pulses, oilseeds, and cotton on about 36.7 lakh acres in Tamil Nadu while they have cultivated horticulture crops including vegetables on 6.4 lakh acres. The Centre’s import comes as this is the right time to apply chemical fertilizers including urea. The distribution of the fertilizers to delta districts has been carried out on war footing, the minister stated.