Farmers in Yadgir district have urged the Union Government to take immediate action to supply the required quantity of fertiliser to Karnataka to meet demand for the coming kharif season.

Addressing a press conference in Raichur on May 19, Chamaras Malipatil, honorary president of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, said that Karnataka’s Agriculture Minister N. Chaluvarayaswamy had said that the State will face a shortage of 38,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser, as the Union Government had not supplied fertilisers based on the State’s demand owing to the West Asia crisis.

“The Minister’s statement on fertiliser shortage has created worry among farmers, and might impact production adversely. Therefore, the Union Government should immediately take action and supply fertiliser as per the State’s demand,” Mr. Malipatil urged.

He said that the prices of fertilisers and chemicals have been increased. He urged the Union and State governments to act collectively to reduce the prices, and also implement strict action against the illegal sale of fertilisers.

“The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha will launch a protest if its demands are not accepted at the earliest,” he said.

Among those present were Devappa Naik, Mallappa Dinni, Prabhakar Patil, Budayya Swamy and Govind Naik.