Bengaluru, July 25 (Reporter) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Jagat Prakash Nadda, urging the Government of India to expedite the supply of Urea to the state to meet rising demand during the ongoing Kharif 2025 season. In the letter dated July 25, Siddaramaiah highlighted that the central government had allocated 11.17 lakh metric tonnes of Urea to Karnataka. However, only 5.16 lakh metric tonnes have been supplied so far, falling short of the state’s requirement of 6.8 lakh metric tonnes for the April to July period. He added that certain fertilizer companies have conveyed their inability to supply Urea as per the allocation, further aggravating the situation. The Chief Minister emphasised that Karnataka has witnessed an early onset of the monsoon this year, leading to increased agricultural activity. Early release of water in the command areas of the Tungabhadra, Cauvery, and Krishna rivers has enabled farmers to begin sowing operations ahead of schedule. Additionally, the area under maize cultivation — a crop with high fertilizer requirements — has increased by approximately two lakh hectares, while the area under pulses has declined. Moreover, around 13,000 hectares of pre-kharif area had to be resown, further adding to the demand for fertilizers. Siddaramaiah warned that the shortfall in Urea is causing unrest among farmers, who are already under pressure during this critical phase of the agricultural season. He urged the Union Minister to take immediate steps to ensure that the shortfall of 1.65 lakh metric tonnes is addressed without delay. The letter reflects the growing concern within the state government over the timely availability of agricultural inputs, which are crucial to safeguarding the livelihood of lakhs of farmers across Karnataka...////...