Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over shortfall in the supply of fertilisers to the southern state for April and May.
Seeking the urgent intervention of the Prime Minister, he urged the Centre to ensure uninterrupted fertiliser supply to Tamil Nadu for the 2026 Kharif season, expressing concerns that shortages at this stage could threaten the state’s food security.
In a letter to Modi, CM Vijay asked the Centre to immediately restore the deficit and ensure future allocations. He specifically sought supplies of urea, diammonium phosphate (DAP) and muriate of potash (MOP), which are critical for Kharif sowing.
“Kindly instruct the authorities concerned to supply the required quantity to meet the demand for the rest of Kharif, 2026, which is 3.83 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of urea, 1.05 lakh MT of DAP and 0.83 lakh MT of MOP," the letter read.
The actor-turned-politician said a review of the state’s Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department after he assumed office on May 10 showed manufacturers had failed to meet the Union Government’s approved supply plan for April and May.
According to the figures cited in the letter, Tamil Nadu received 39,001 metric tonnes less urea than scheduled, along with a shortfall of 28,607 MT of DAP and 24,235 MT of MOP.
Vijay said that with the IMD forecasting the onset of the southwest monsoon in the third week of May, fertiliser demand, especially for urea and DAP, is expected to rise sharply.
The Chief Minister also pointed out the state government is keen on ensuring adequate availability of fertilisers as it has planned to cover 25 lakh hectares under various crops during Kharif season, which accounts for nearly 40 per cent of the Gross Cropped Area in the state.
Highlighting Tamil Nadu’s agricultural dependence, Vijay said more than 40 per cent of the state’s population relies on farming. He noted that 92 per cent of farmers are small and marginal landholders with less than two hectares.
