Archive · 25 Aug 2026
State Urges Centre to Rationalize Fertilizer Prices Amid Urea Overuse
The state government says farmers are using too much urea because it is much cheaper than other fertilizers.
Urea use increased from 14 lakh tonnes in 2015-16 to 20.7 lakh tonnes last year.
A urea bag costs much less than a bag of DAP or complex fertilizer.
Because of this price difference, some farmers use more fertilizer than crops need.
Paddy farmers were using too much nitrogen and phosphorus.
Maize farmers were using up to 10 bags of urea per acre instead of three.
Cotton farmers were using more nitrogen but less potash than recommended.
The agriculture minister wants the Centre to change fertilizer prices so fertilizer use becomes more balanced.
Telangana’s government urged the Centre to rationalize fertilizer prices to reduce excessive urea use.
Urea consumption rose from 14 lakh tonnes in 2015-16 to 20.7 lakh tonnes last year.
A 45-kg urea bag costs about Rs 240-266, compared with Rs 1,350 for a 50-kg DAP bag.
Farmers were reportedly exceeding recommended nitrogen and phosphorus use while applying too little potash.
Agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao said repeated appeals to the Centre had produced no visible response.
- Who
- The Telangana government and agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao urged the Centre to act.
- What
- The state asked for fertilizer prices to be rationalized because low-priced urea was being overused.
- When
- The minister made the appeal on Tuesday; the cited consumption comparison covers 2015-16 to last year.
- Where
- Hyderabad; the fertilizer-use figures concern farmers in the state.
- Why
- Large price differences and subsidies for urea and DAP were encouraging farmers to use excessive amounts instead of maintaining balanced nutrient levels.
- Urea consumption
- Increased from 14 lakh tonnes in 2015-16 to 20.7 lakh tonnes last year.
- Urea price
- Approximately Rs 240 to Rs 266 for a 45-kg bag.
- DAP price
- Rs 1,350 for a 50-kg bag.
- Complex fertilizer price
- Rs 1,750 for a bag of 19:9:19 complex fertilizer.
- Maize use
- Farmers were using five to 10 bags of urea per acre instead of the recommended three.
- Cotton nutrient use
- Nitrogen use was 10-15% above the recommended dosage, while potash use was about 30% lower.
- Government request
- The state urged the Centre to rationalize fertilizer prices.