Many farmers in Telangana are tenants who rent land and use urea heavily to have quick results, which increases demand.
Published Aug 24, 2025 | 2:00 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 24, 2025 | 2:00 PM
Shopkeeper selling subsidised urea fertiliser at a government-run shop for farmers. (iStock)
Synopsis: Telangana farmers are battling the shortage of urea. Getting enough urea has become a huge issue, causing shortages, protests, and worries about crop losses. Here is a look at Telangana’s urea needs, why the shortage is happening, what different groups think, and how to fix the problem.
Telangana is a farming state where crops such as paddy, cotton, and maize are grown widely. Farmers depend heavily on urea, a nitrogen fertiliser, to help these crops grow well. In the 2025 Kharif season (April to September), farmers are cultivating over 118 lakh acres, 27 percent more than last year, thanks to good rainfall and irrigation projects like Sriram Sagar and Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation.
However, getting enough urea has become a huge issue, causing shortages, protests, and worries about crop losses. Telangana uses 170-173 kg of fertiliser per acre, much higher than the national average of 100-120 kg. This high use comes from different soil types, the crops grown, and farmers’ habits of using too much urea.
Here is a look at Telangana’s urea needs, why the shortage is happening, what different groups think, and how to fix the problem.
For the 2025 Kharif season, the Union government allocated 9.8 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of urea to Telangana, out of India’s total fertiliser use of over 65 million metric tonnes. However, state officials say Telangana needs 10.48 LMT because more land is being farmed: 45 lakh acres for paddy, 44.64 lakh acres for cotton, and 5.97 lakh acres for maize.
From April to August 2025, only 5.32-5.42 LMT was supplied, compared to the promised 8.3 LMT, leaving a gap of 2.69-3 LMT. This shortage is bigger than in previous seasons. For example, urea sales in the Rabi 2024-25 season rose by 21% compared to the year before, and Kharif 2025 has seen a 12.4% increase so far due to good monsoons and more planting.
The shortage affects different districts badly. In Mahabubabad, only 18,100 MT was supplied, but 40,500 MT is needed. Hanamkonda got 16,943 MT, less than the 29,174 MT supplied last year. Nalgonda needs 43,450 MT but received only 27,000 MT. Farmers’ groups say the state needs about 8.5 LMT for the season.
Many farmers in Telangana are tenants who rent land and use urea heavily to have quick results, which increases demand. This shortage could reduce crop yields by 10-15 percent across 53.51 lakh hectares, especially if urea isn’t applied at key times, like after transplanting paddy.
Even though India wants to produce all its fertiliser by 2025 and stop imports, Telangana’s urea shortage continues. Several problems are causing this crisis, making life hard for farmers and leading to protests.
Poor distribution: Farmers in districts like Medak, Siddipet, Jogulamba Gadwal, Rajanna Sircilla, Warangal, and Mahabubabad struggle to obtain urea. They line up early in the morning, sometimes leaving shoes to hold their place, but often get only one or two 45-kg bags per Aadhaar card — if any. This has led to protests, including road blockades and sit-ins, and fights breaking out over limited stocks. Not having urea at the right time, especially for paddy, could cut crop yields and hurt farmers’ income, as farming costs are already high.
Black marketing and high prices: Urea is sold to farmers at a subsidised price of ₹266.50 per bag, but in the black market, it costs ₹325-400. Some dealers and middlemen, sometimes linked to politicians, are accused of hoarding urea to sell it at higher prices. In places like Shatrajupalli, the shortage is so bad that farmers have given urea bags as birthday gifts, showing how desperate they are. This black market makes it harder for small farmers to afford urea, adding to their struggles.
Urea used for other purposes: Some subsidised urea meant for farming is illegally used in industries. It’s used to make diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) for vehicles, resins for construction materials like plywood, and even in medicines. Hyderabad’s growing transport and medicine industries increase this problem, taking urea away from farmers. This misuse feeds the black market and reduces what’s available for agriculture.
Issues with production and delivery: Making urea in India has faced issues. The Ramagundam Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd (RFCL) plant stopped working for 78 days between April and August 2025 because of gas leaks and technical problems. A pipeline leak stopped production from 14 August, and it only restarted on 25 August. Other plants, like those in Talcher (Odisha) and Nagarjuna, aren’t producing enough either. Globally, high natural gas prices, shipping problems due to conflicts in West Asia (like in the Red Sea), and China limiting its exports have reduced urea imports. Delays in railway deliveries and promised imports (like 0.97 LMT for July that didn’t arrive) make the shortage worse.
Using too much urea: Farmers in Telangana use too much urea, which hurts the soil. In the 1970s, one bag per acre was enough, but now farmers use up to 10 bags a year. Tenant farmers, who focus on quick profits, use urea instead of other fertilisers like DAP or potash. This overuse makes crops need more fertiliser to grow, increases demand, and damages soil health, creating a cycle that’s hard to break.
Bigger systematic issues: The urea shortage isn’t just in Telangana — states like Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan have similar issues. Poor planning between the Union and state governments, weak monitoring of distribution, and reliance on imports despite global supply problems all contribute. These issues show that the system for getting urea to farmers needs fixing.
The urea crisis has caused arguments among different groups, mixing real concerns with politics.
Farmers and farmers’ unions are frustrated and share their struggles on social media, from long lines to fears of losing crops. Groups like Rythu Swarajya Vedika and All India Kisan Sabha are protesting, asking for quick action to get more urea and stop black marketing. Many farmers wonder if farming is worth it with these constant problems.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao are blaming the Union government for not sending enough urea, pointing to a 3.20 LMT shortfall from April to August 2025. They met Union Minister JP Nadda several times, asking for more supplies and criticising RFCL’s failures.
The state is trying to promote nano urea, a new type of fertiliser, but farmers aren’t using it much yet.
However, Union Minister JP Nadda said there’s enough urea, noting that 10.02 LMT was given for Rabi 2024-25 (more than the state asked for) and 5.18 LMT for Kharif, with 7.22 LMT available. The Centre blames the state for poor management, panic buying caused by state leaders’ statements, and urea being used too much or diverted. BJP leaders have offered to debate the state on this issue.
Former minister and BRS leader KT Rama Rao, along with another BRS leader RS Praveen Kumar, said the Congress government created this shortage on purpose. They accuse Congress supporters of black marketeering and claim there were no shortages when BRS was in power because they planned better.
Agricultural experts suggest using less urea by switching to organic farming and testing the soil to know what nutrients crops need. They say that this will keep soil healthy and reduce the need for so much urea, helping farmers in the long run.
As of 20 August, the Union government approved an extra 50,000 MT of urea, and shipments, including 10,800 MT from Karnataka, have started arriving.
Four imported ships are expected by the end of August, and the state has asked for 80,000 MT more. But protests continue, and RFCL’s repairs are still ongoing, so it’s unclear if production will fully recover soon.
To fix the crisis, immediate steps are needed. The state and Union government should work together to deliver urea quickly, stop black marketing, and improve how urea is distributed to prevent losses.
More railway deliveries and faster imports can help now. For the future, farmers need training on using less urea and trying options like nano urea or organic fertilisers. Testing the soil more often can help farmers use the right amount of fertiliser.
The government should also stop urea from being used in industries and monitor the supply chain better to catch hoarders. These steps can prevent shortages from happening again.
The urea crisis shows bigger problems in Indian farming, like depending too much on subsidies and facing global supply issues. If Telangana and India don’t act, farmers will keep struggling, and food security could be at risk. Better planning, teamwork between governments, and smarter farming practices are key to a stronger future for Telangana’s agriculture.
(This article has been prepared with the inputs of agricultural scientists based in the Agriculture research station, Warangal. Views are personal. Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
