Raipur, Jul 14 (PTI) The opposition Congress demanded a discussion in the Chhattisgarh assembly on the first day of the Monsoon Session on Monday on shortage of seeds and fertilisers that it claimed had affected agricultural activities in the ongoing crop season.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant, former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and others from the Congress said the BJP government in the state had failed to ensure adequate supply of fertilisers and seeds for Kharif season 2025.

"There is an outcry for DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) and urea fertilizers in the state. The target set for DAP distribution for Kharif 2025 season was 3.10 lakh tonnes, which was 30,000 tonnes less than the previous Kharif 2024 season. So far in the ongoing season, only 1.01 lakh metric tonnes have been supplied," the Congress leaders said.

The target for urea distribution was 7.12 lakh tonnes but only 3.59 lakh tonnes were supplied. they claimed, adding the state government, amid protests by farmers, revised the target for DAP from 3.10 lakh metric tonnes to 1.03 lakh metric tonnes in a "deceitful manner".

The state wants to reduce the production of paddy by creating an artificial fertiliser crisis, therefore supply was being curtailed, they alleged.

The demand for paddy seed was 4,32,159 quintals but its storage in cooperative societies is only 3,83,169 quintals, the Congress said while claiming that fertiliser is available in the private sector but shopkeepers have been indulging in black marketing taking advantage of the shortage in cooperative societies.

"There are 40.10 lakh farmer families in the state, of which 80 per cent fall in the small and marginal categories, who take fertiliser from cooperative societies after obtaining agricultural loans. These farmers are the most troubled. The double engine BJP governments in the state and at the Centre are responsible for this situation," the Congress leaders said in the House.

Countering their charges, state Agriculture Minister Ramvichar Netam said the availability of phosphatic fertilisers is mainly based on imports and these are likely to be affected in view of current global conditions.

Keeping this in view, the state government had started the process of arranging alternative fertilisers and making farmers aware about their use long ago, he said in the assembly.

"Against the total estimated demand of 6.90 lakh metric tonnes of phosphatic fertilisers, till date 6.40 lakh metric tonnes of phosphatic fertilisers have been stored and more than 4.25 lakh metric tonnes have been lifted by farmers. More that 2.14 lakh metric tonnes of phosphatic fertilisers are remaining," the minister said.

Against the total demand of 7.12 lakh metric tonnes of urea, more than 6 lakh tonnes has been stored so far, he said, and after the lifting of more than 4.37 lakh tonnes of urea by farmers, more than 1.62 lakh tonnes remain.

"The use of nano urea and nano DAP produced through nano technology has also been recommended by Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur and during the 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan'. Farmers are being continuously made aware for the use of these recommended liquid fertilizers," he said.

More than 1.79 lakh bottles (500 ml) of nano DAP have been stored in the state's cooperative societies and private sales centres and farmers have also been lifting them in sufficient quantities, the minister said.

Rubbishing the allegations of the Congress, the minister said the demand for fertilisers is made for the entire crop season and their supply is continuous.

Even the allegations that the state government revised the demand of DAP is also not correct, Netam said.

"But, in view of the possibility of its supply being affected due to global reasons, arrangements have been made for storage of more than the target set for alternative NPK and SSP fertilizers. A total of 4,81,730 quintals of seeds were stored through cooperative societies and departmental means. After lifting of 4,43,452 quintals of seeds by farmers, more than 38 thousand quintals remain in the cooperative sector," he said.

The state government has been running an intensive campaign in all the districts to stop the black marketing of fertilisers, which has resulted in all types of fertilisers being available for farmers at the prescribed rate, the minister said.

After Netam's reply, Speaker Raman Singh disallowed the adjournment motion notice moved by the Congress, following which legislators of the opposition party trooped into the Well of the House and were automatically suspended.

Amid the uproar, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings for five minutes.

After the House resumed, the Speaker announced their suspension and subsequently revoked it. PTI TKP BNM