The Andhra Pradesh Cooperative Marketing Federation has begun to stock up fertilisers in anticipation of a sharp rise in demand in the State in the next two months.

AP Markfed is a federation of marketing cooperative societies in the State working towards ensuring that farmers get a better price by providing them agri inputs. It undertakes sale of various farm inputs, including fertilisers and seeds, through its member societies.

“We currently have fertiliser stocks of about 2.5 lakh tonnes. In the next two months, we will build up an inventory of four lakh tonnes in anticipation of a rise in demand,” D. Kadmiel, Managing Director of the federation, told Business Line .

Last year, the federation sold about 10 lakh tonnes of fertilisers, raking in revenues of about Rs 1,200 crore. In fact, it had fallen from 13 lakh tonnes in the previous year due to a slump in demand in the wake of poor monsoons.

“This year we expect farm output to go up and, with it, demand for fertilisers. We are hoping to cross 13 lakh tonnes,” Kanchi Ramarao, Chairman, said.

 

amitmitra@thehindu.co.in