Lok Sabha Question No. 618 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: Fertiliser Shortage in Kerala
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri K C Venugopal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 618

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 03 RD  FEBRUARY, 2026

## FERTILISER SHORTAGE IN KERALA

618. SHRI K C VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the severe fertiliser shortage, particularly urea, potash, and phosphate, affecting Kuttanad and other regions in Alappuzha district during the 2025-26 season, leading to potential crop losses for farmers, if so, the reasons for the shortage;
- (b) whether the Ministry has assessed the impact of climate change on Kerala's agriculture, including losses from landslides, floods, and monsoons, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of Minimum Support Price (MSP) revisions for Kharif crops in 2025-26,including delays  in  MSP payments to Kerala farmers, and measures to  ensure timely disbursement revised support schemes for coconut farmers; and
- (d)  the  steps being taken to address paddy seed shortages ahead of the planting season, including quality concerns raised from the farmers ?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

- (a): State  Government  of  Kerala  has  informed  that  fertilizer  shortage  particularly  Urea, Murate  of  Potash,  Phosphatic  fertilizers   has  not  been  reported  during  2025-26  from Alappuzha district including Kuttanaad and other regions because requirement of fertilizers was planned in advance and timely fertilizer availability was ensured. Hence, crop loss due to shortage of fertilizers has also not been reported.

(b): Independent study report regarding landslide that affected the parts of Wayanad and Kozhikode districts  during  July  2024,  has  been  submitted  in  the  Legislative Assembly  of Kerala by Environment Committee consisting of Hon'ble Members of Legislative Assembly. The details of crop loss as informed by State Government due to climate change on Kerala Agriculture (01/04/2021 to 28/01/2026) is shown below:

| Particulars   |   Number of farmers affected |   Crop loss (Rs) |
|---------------|------------------------------|------------------|
| Landslides    |                         1443 |         23967727 |
| Floods        |                        14641 |        148971006 |
| Heavy rain    |                        20791 |        138897792 |
| Cyclones      |                         7963 |         75306142 |
| Heavy wind    |                         4594 |         43432133 |

(c): The Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for Kharif crops for the agricultural season 2025-26, as announced by the Government of India, have been adopted by the Government of Kerala and implemented through the State's procurement mechanism. In Kerala, procurement of paddy  at  MSP  is  carried  out  through  State-designated  agency  namely  Supplyco  in coordination  with  the  Food  Corporation  of  India  (FCI),  as  per  prescribed  guidelines.  At present, paddy is procured at the Minimum Support Price of ₹2,300 per quintal for Common variety and ₹2,320 per quintal for Grade 'A' variety, along with a State Incentive Bonus of ₹630 per quintal, ensuring a total procurement price of ₹3,000 per quintal to farmers. Delay in  disbursement of paddy procurement payments to farmers has been reported in certain instances during recent seasons, arising from procedural and operational constraints within the existing procurement framework. In addition, settlement of liabilities carried over under the  Paddy  Receipt  Sheet  (PRS)  loan  mechanism  from  earlier  seasons  has  required reconciliation, which has had an impact on the timing of payments in some cases. However, disbursements due up to 15.01.2026 have been effected. Further, Govt. of India, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare fixes MSPs for twenty-two mandated crops, for the country as a whole and not region specific. The details of MSP for the last two years are at Annexure-I.

(d): In Kerala, 1.243 lakh quintals of certified / quality paddy seeds is available against the requirement of 1.243 lakh quintals during 2025-26. Therefore, no shortage of paddy seeds in Kerala  was  reported.   To  ensure  availability  of  quality  seeds  including  paddy  to  farmers, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India assesses the requirement and availability of seeds with States and other agencies through zonal seeds meetings organised periodically prior to each cropping seasons.  Government of Kerala supplies certified paddy seeds  free  of  cost  to  farmers  across  the  State  through  the Registered  Seed  Growers Programme (RSGP) , implemented as a key component of the Rice Development Scheme . To regulate the quality of seeds, the provisions are available in the Seeds Act, 1966, the Seed Rules, 1968, the Seeds (Control) Order, 1983. The above, said legislations empowered the State  Governments  to  appoint  seed  inspectors  to  check  the  quality  and  curb  the  sale  of spurious  seeds.  In  case  any  seeds  samples  are  found  to  be  substandard,  action  is  taken namely, cancelation of dealer license, seizure of the stock, issuance of warning, stop sale order and prosecution etc.

## Minimum Support Price (Marketing Season-wise)(₹/quintal)

| Sr. No.   | Commodities             | KMS 2024-25   | KMS 2025-26   |
|-----------|-------------------------|---------------|---------------|
|           | KHARIF CROPS            |               |               |
|           | Paddy (Common)          | 2300          | 2369          |
| 1         | Paddy (Grade 'A')       | 2320          | 2389          |
| 2         | Jowar (Hybrid)          | 3371          | 3699          |
|           | Jowar (Maldandi)        | 3421          | 3749          |
| 3         | Bajra                   | 2625          | 2775          |
| 4         | Ragi                    | 4290          | 4886          |
| 5         | Maize                   | 2225          | 2400          |
| 6         | Arhar                   | 7550          | 8000          |
| 7         | Moong                   | 8682          | 8768          |
| 8         | Urad                    | 7400          | 7800          |
| 9         | Cotton (Medium Staple ) | 7121          | 7710          |
|           | Cotton (Long Staple )   | 7521          | 8110          |
| 10        | Groundnut               | 6783          | 7263          |
| 11        | Sunflower Seed          | 7280          | 7721          |
| 12        | Soyabean Yellow         | 4892          | 5328          |
| 13        | Sesamum                 | 9267          | 9846          |
| 14        | Nigerseed               | 8717          | 9537          |
|           | RABI CROPS              | RMS 2025-26   | RMS 2026-27   |
| 15        | Wheat                   | 2425          | 2585          |
| 16        | Barley                  | 1980          | 2150          |
| 17        | Gram                    | 5650          | 5875          |
| 18        | Masur                   | 6700          | 7000          |
| 19        | Rapeseed &mustard       | 5950          | 6200          |
| 20        | Safflower               | 5940          | 6540          |
|           | COMMERCIAL CROPS        |               |               |
|           |                         | 2024-25       | 2025-26       |
| 21        | Jute                    | 5335          | 5650          |
|           |                         | 2025          | 2026          |
|           | Copra (milling)         | 11582         | 12027         |
| 22        | Copra (ball)            | 12100         | 12500         |

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