Sri Vijaya Puram, Dec. 14: Hon’ble Member of Parliament from Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, has informed that the long-pending issue of non-availability of essential fertilizers Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and Urea in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands has finally been resolved, and the supply process has now entered the execution stage.
For several years, particularly since around 2019, the supply and import of DAP and Urea to the Islands had remained disrupted, causing severe hardship to local farmers. The absence of subsidised fertilizers led to loss of agricultural productivity and compelled farmers to procure inputs from the black market at exorbitant prices, significantly escalating the cost of cultivation.
After being elected for a fourth term in 2024, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray took up the matter as a priority and pursued it consistently with the Government of India, including with the Hon’ble Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and A&N Administration, to ensure restoration of regular fertilizer supply to the Islands.
Following sustained follow-up and coordination, the required administrative processes have now been completed. Full payment for both DAP and Urea has been credited to the supplier firm, containers have been made ready, and transportation of fertilizers has commenced from Tuticorin to Chennai. The transit process is expected to be completed within the next two days, after which the consignments will proceed towards the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The fertilizers are now officially on the way.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray stated that there is no policy or budgetary constraint in ensuring supply of DAP and Urea to the Islands and emphasised that timely requisition and coordination are critical to avoid recurrence of such shortages in future.
The Hon’ble MP expressed hope that the arrival of fertilizers will bring immediate relief to farmers, curb illegal black-market practices, and stabilise agricultural input costs across the Islands. He reaffirmed his commitment to continue monitoring the situation closely to ensure smooth distribution and to work towards establishing a reliable and advance-planned fertilizer supply mechanism for the farming community of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.