Bhubaneswar, July 20 (UDN): In a bid to address the anticipated shortage of key fertilisers during the ongoing Kharif season, the Odisha Government has directed district administrations to promote the use of alternative fertilisers to ensure uninterrupted agricultural activities across the state.

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment has instructed all District Collectors and Chief District Agriculture Officers (CDAOs) to encourage farmers to use complex fertilisers as an alternative to Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and ammonium sulphate in place of urea, in line with the Centre’s fertiliser management strategy.

According to the department, the Government of India has planned an enhanced supply of ammonium sulphate, which contains 20.5 per cent nitrogen and 23 per cent sulphur. Besides meeting the nitrogen requirement of crops, the fertiliser is expected to improve soil fertility by addressing sulphur deficiency, an essential nutrient for healthy plant growth.

The department noted that the availability of DAP has remained constrained this season, prompting the Centre to recommend the wider adoption of complex fertilisers as a suitable substitute to meet crop nutrient requirements.

To ensure timely availability of fertilisers, the Odisha State Cooperative Marketing Federation (MARKFED) has been entrusted with lifting 60 per cent of the fertiliser allocation received by each district. District-level MARKFED officials have been asked to place advance indents for complex fertilisers and ammonium sulphate in accordance with district-wise allocations to maintain adequate stocks throughout the cropping season.

The directive has also been circulated to all Chief District Agriculture Officers for immediate implementation, while the Registrar of Cooperative Societies has been instructed to facilitate the procurement and distribution of the substitute fertilisers across the state.

Treating the matter as a priority, the Agriculture Department has called for close coordination among district administrations, MARKFED, cooperative societies, and agriculture officials to ensure timely fertiliser distribution and minimise the impact of DAP and urea shortages on farmers during the crucial cultivation season.

The move comes amid growing concerns over fertiliser availability as farmers across several districts have reported difficulties in procuring DAP and urea during the peak sowing and transplantation period.