Lucknow, 20 August. State Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi fiercely attacked Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav in a press conference on Tuesday. He said that Akhilesh Yadav has no right to speak about farmers. During his reign, farmers were neither able to sow in time nor did they get the facility to purchase at the minimum support price. At that time, the Yogi government had to waive 36 thousand crore rupees of 86 lakh farmers in debt. If the SP government was such a farmer friendly then why did the farmers commit suicide.
Government is tightening screws on black marketing and hoarding
The Agriculture Minister clearly said that there is no shortage of fertilizer and urea in the state. Problems are only causing hoarding, black marketing and smuggling elements. He informed that so far 1196 retail vendors’ licenses have been revoked. 132 notices to wholesalers, 13 have been suspended and 4 have been canceled. An FIR has been lodged against 93 people. District agricultural officials of Sitapur, Balrampur and Shravasti have been suspended. At the same time, a large number of people have been caught in the border districts like Maharajganj and Siddharthnagar who picked up dozens of bags of urea without any holdings. The minister warned that such mafias will not be spared.
Farmers will get fertilizer in any case
Surya Pratap Shahi said that the state government is fully active to provide fertilizer and seeds to every farmer in time. At present, 15 lakh 91 thousand metric tons of various types of fertilizers are available in the state. So far, 32 lakh 7 thousand metric tonnes of manure has been sold in Kharif 2024, which is four and a half million metric tonnes more than last year. He said that more than 10 thousand metric tons of urea have been consumed in more than 15 districts, yet there was no shortage.
Government has made big arrangements for Rabi season
The Agriculture Minister informed that this time the target of farming in an area of 138.78 lakh hectares has been set for the Rabi 2025-26 seasons. Last year, Rabi was sown in an area of 132.86 lakh hectares. This time 4 lakh hectares will be expanded. 10 lakh quintals of subsidized seeds will be provided to farmers. Pulses and oil seeds including wheat, barley, maize, mustard and flaxseed will be delivered to the farmers. About 12.80 lakh mini kits will also be provided to encourage farmers. Sugarcane farmers will be motivated for sugarcane as well as sowing pulses and providing free seeds to them.
Information given about fertilizer demand and subsidy
Shahi said that 41 lakh metric tonnes of urea, 17 lakh metric tonnes DAP, 7.08 lakh metric tonne NP, 1.78 lakh metric tonnes SSP and 2 lakh metric tonnes of potash will be demanded from the Government of India for the Rabi season. He informed that the central government is giving subsidy up to Rs 1908 per bag on urea and farmers are being made available for just Rs 266.50. If this subsidy is not there, the price of urea would be up to Rs 2200. The government is also giving large amounts of subsidy on DAP, NP, SSP and potash so that farmers do not face any kind of trouble.
Food production and record increase in GSVA
The Agriculture Minister claimed that due to timely fertilizer, better seeds and irrigation facilities, the food production of the state has increased by about 200 lakh metric tonnes as compared to previous years. At this time it has reached 737 lakh metric tons. Sugarcane production has also increased significantly. The increased yield of farmers has also affected the state’s economy. There has been a tremendous bounce in the GSVA associated with the agricultural sector, which was two lakh crore rupees during the SP rule and has now increased to seven lakh crore rupees.
Sustified to farmers
At the end of the press conference, Surya Pratap Shahi said that farmers will not be allowed to be disappointed under any circumstances. The state government and administration are completely alert. Special vigilance is being taken to prevent smuggling of fertilizer in the border districts. He reiterated that the real farmers will not have any kind of problem, but the mafia who hoarded, black marketing and smuggling will have to face strict action.
Minister of State Baldev Singh Aulakh and Agriculture Department officials were present during the press conference.
*Important points of press conference*
* The area of Kharif 2024 increased to 105.93 lakh hectare in the state.
* In 2013-14, the Kharif acreage was 90.46 lakh hectares.
* So far, 15.47 lakh hectare in kharif area i.e. 17% increase.
* The total farming was 225.87 lakh hectares in the year 2015-16.
* In 2024-25, the total area of farming increased to 274.22 lakh hectares.
* The scope of farming in the state increased by 28.35 lakh hectares.
* Consumption of 23 lakh MT urea in Kharif 2016.
* Urea consumption in Kharif 2024 arrived at 39 lakh meters.
* That is, 16 lakh mb urea consumption increased in 8 years.
* As of 19 August 2025, 32.07 lakh mbon urea farmers bought.
* 1 month and 10 days left for the Kharif season to end.
* On 01 April 2025, the availability of urea in the state was 12.52 lakh meters.
* So far 25.45 lakh MT urea has been ordered from the Government of India.
* Availability of total 37.97 lakh meters of urea ensured.
* Out of this, farmers bought 32.07 lakh MT.
* Last year, 27.86 lakh MT urea was sold in the same period.
* This time 4.21 lakh meters more urea was made available.
* Currently 6 lakh MT Urea was present in stock for farmers.
* So far 1.52 crore farmers bought urea by putting thumbs with a POS machine.
* 186 people bought urea up to 1–2.37 m in Maharajganj.
* Some people bought urea from 4 to 13 times, investigation started.
* Many farmers bought urea up to 20 times in Siddharthnagar, investigation continues.
* Strict action will be taken on black marketing and hoardings.
* International prices of fertilizer increased wildly.
* The Center increased the subsidy to ensure that the burden of farmers should not increase.
* Real price of urea is Rs 2174 per bag, farmers for just Rs 266.
* DAP available to farmers for Rs 1350.
* NPK’s selling price 1850 rupees.
* MOP farmers are getting Rs 1800 and SSP for Rs 540.
* At present, a total of 15.91 lakh meters of fertilizer available in the state.
* Urea 5.90 lakh m.on, DAP 3.87 lakh meters and NPK 3 lakh MT.
* SSP 2.51 lakh mm
* 2.50 lakh meters in urea and 1.94 lakh meters DAP stock in cooperative sector.
* 3.87 lakh mbon urea and 1.93 lakh mbon DAP available in the private sector.
* 24 rack urea and 12 racks in DAP transit.
* All racks will reach their destination in the next 3-4 days.
* The state is getting 10–12 rack urea per day and 5–6 rack DAP.
* 12,653 raids were conducted to prevent black marketing of fertilizers.
* 3,385 fertilizer samples have been taken so far.
* 1,047 notice issued.
* 571 retail seller suspended and canceled 1,196.
* 13 wholesaler suspended and canceled 4.
* Strict action by filing 93 FIRs.
* The government committed to provide timely fertilizer to farmers.
* Farmers, the highest priority of both the central and state government.