Farmers in the coastal Andhra Pradesh districts are tending to overuse urea, which is not desirable, as it may adversely affect soil fertility in the long run, according to A. Praveen Reddy, one of the Directors of Indian Farmers' Fertiliser Co-operative Ltd (IFFCO).

He was addressing farmers and others at the regional co-operative conference of IFFCO here on Thursday. He said farmers in these areas were using urea as a substitute for complex fertilisers and excessive use of nitrogen may affect the soil. He advised farmers to apply fertilisers properly taking into account the soil conditions and the requirements of the crop. He said IFFCO was promoting micro-nutrients and water-soluble fertilisers to help farmers in bringing down expenditure on fertilisers and to improve yields.

He said demand for fertilisers in Andhra Pradesh could not be fully met during the past two years, due to constraints in movement of fertilisers such as non-availability of railway rakes. He said IFFCO was the world’s largest fertiliser co-operative federation, supplying nearly 30 per cent of the fertiliser used in the country, and it had set up five manufacturing units in the country - two apiece in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh and one in Orissa. In Andhra Pradesh, IFFCO had tied up with the AP Markfed for storing and supplying fertilisers.

IFFCO state marketing manager Ch. Ramachandra Reddy said there was difficulty last year in moving fertilisers, as there was congestion at ports in the State and also due to rake shortage, but the problem had since been solved.

sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

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