We will continue this keeping the broad interests of the farming community in mind. Minister Tummala in the Legislative Council
Hyderabad, Trinet News, September 9: Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao made it clear that there is no question of scrapping the app under any circumstances, which was introduced with the objective of providing urea and other subsidized fertilizers transparently and as needed to genuine farmers. He stated that technical issues being encountered in the implementation of the app are being resolved from time to time, and measures will be taken in the future to provide services to farmers even more easily and efficiently.
Minister Tummala replied to questions raised by MLC Nellikanti Satyam in the Legislative Council on Wednesday. On this occasion, several members brought up issues such as urea supply, booking through the app, difficulties faced by tenant farmers, transport charges of urea to societies, and technical issues. The minister gave a comprehensive explanation regarding them.
App to ensure subsidized fertilizers reach genuine farmers..
Previously, fertilizer distribution took place based on Aadhaar, the minister stated. However, he said the government has the responsibility to ensure that subsidized fertilizers reach the farmers who are actually cultivating the land. He explained that the main purpose of introducing the app is to curb issues like illegal diversion of fertilizers, black marketing, and hoarding beyond requirements, besides ensuring that farmers get fertilizers to the extent they need.
The minister stated that the Telangana government introduced the 'Urea Booking App' in Rabi 2025-26 to provide subsidized urea transparently and as needed to genuine farmers. Since this system implemented in Telangana yielded good results, based on it, the central government introduced the 'Framework for Fertilizer Sale App' to bring all subsidized fertilizer sales nationwide into a digital format, he said. He mentioned that currently, all subsidized fertilizer sales are being managed through the FFS app instead of the urea app previously implemented by the state government.
Resolving technical issues encountered in the app..
The minister said it is a fact that when the new app was being implemented across the state, some technical issues cropped up here and there. However, he stated that they are not permanent flaws in the system, but rather issues caused by technical reasons. A technical team appointed by the government of India and our officials are continuously monitoring the performance of the app, and wherever issues arise, they are resolving them promptly, he said. He stated that the system is being further strengthened to provide uninterrupted service to farmers in the coming crop seasons.
Booking facility even for farmers without smartphones...
The minister stated that alternative arrangements have been made for farmers without smartphones to book fertilizers. Farmers can book fertilizers through Common Service Centres (CSCs), he said. Similarly, he stated that booking facilities are being provided to farmers with the cooperation of agriculture department officials, fertilizer dealers, and volunteers at retail fertilizer sales centers. He said this assistance will be provided subject to farmer identification and OTP verification. The minister stated that 'Meem seva' bookings are also being integrated so that farmers can easily book fertilizers through the FFS app. The government is making all alternative routes available so that farmers without technical knowledge or smartphones do not face trouble, he said.
Temporary discrepancies between digital and physical stock...
The minister explained that due to reasons like the time taken to transport fertilizers from warehouses to retail sales centers, counting of receipts, stock transfer entries, e-POS synchronization, and network connectivity, temporary discrepancies appear between digital stock and physical stock on some occasions. To overcome these problems, he stated that instructions have been given to officials to conduct district-wise stock inspections and regularly reconcile digital records and physical inventories. He said clear instructions have been given to district officials to take strict action if anyone intentionally engages in irregularities.
Enhancing server capacity to withstand peak load...
The minister stated that measures are being taken to prevent any technical disruption even if the number of farmers increases in the coming crop seasons or a large number of farmers use the app simultaneously. He stated that the technical team of the FFS app is conducting load testing from time to time, and the system is being designed to automatically increase server capacity according to need. He said the technical system is being strengthened to provide services to farmers even during peak usage times.
Members' appeal to scrap the app..
Later, several members brought to the notice of the house that urea is not available to farmers at the required time. Members stated that tenant farmers are facing difficulties in booking fertilizers through the app, and farmers are undergoing severe hardships due to signal problems and technical difficulties in rural areas. In this backdrop, they requested that the app be scrapped.
App will not be scrapped under any circumstances: Minister Tummala...
Responding to this, Minister Tummala clarified that there is no question of cancelling the app under any circumstances. He stated that this system, brought in for transparency in fertilizer distribution, curbing black marketing, and providing subsidized fertilizers to genuine farmers, will be implemented even more effectively.
The minister revealed that more than 50 lakh farmers have already purchased fertilizers through the app. With such a large number of farmers utilizing this system, the government's goal is to resolve the technical issues being encountered and further improve the system, he said.
Minister Tummala stated that taking the app brought by the Telangana government for transparency in urea distribution as an ideal, the central government has introduced the Framework for Fertilizer Sale (FFS) system to sell all subsidized fertilizers through an app nationwide. He said the system initially started for urea distribution in the state is now being expanded by the central government and applied to all subsidized fertilizers. He stated that the FFS app designed by the Centre was fully implemented statewide just last week in place of the state app.
Measures only to prevent diversion of urea to industries...
The minister stated that there were instances in the past where urea allocated to farmers was diverted to industries under the name of 'industrial urea'. He also said there used to be situations where some people purchased urea beyond their requirement and hoarded it in houses. The minister asserted that the app system was brought in with the intention of preventing such irregularities, misuse, and black marketing, and ensuring that the subsidy provided by the government reaches the genuine farmer directly.
Central policies are the reason for farmers' dependence on urea...
Minister Tummala commented that the central government's fertilizer pricing policy is the main reason for farmers depending heavily on urea. While the central government gives high subsidy on urea, the prices of other complex fertilizers exceed Rs. 2,000, forcing farmers to lean towards urea which is available at a lower price rather than balanced fertilizers that protect soil health, he said. The minister stated that excessive use of urea not only damages soil health but also has the potential to adversely affect crops in the long run. He said that for farmers to use complex fertilizers that protect soil health in a balanced manner, the central government needs to rationalize fertilizer prices. The minister stated that although the state government has asked the central government several times to rationalize fertilizer prices, expected-level actions have not been taken so far.
Urea is sufficient in the state...
Minister Tummala clarified that there is no shortage of urea in Telangana currently. He stated that due to global conditions, especially war situations in West Asia, some disruptions occurred in urea imports, and situations where urea did not reach the country on time were faced last year and this year. Nevertheless, the state government is continuously mounting pressure on the central government and bringing the required urea to the state, he said. He said necessary supplies are being brought to the state by constantly coordinating with the Centre so that farmers do not face a shortage of fertilizers.
The minister stated that whichever government is in power, there will be a uniform system regarding fertilizer distribution. He said fertilizer supply happens according to agricultural needs of that particular month, cultivation area, crop situation, and farmers' demand. He said despite difficulties in global fertilizer supply, the government is taking advance measures so that farmers do not face any shortage in the state. The minister stated that previously fertilizer stocks in the state used to be around 16 to 17 lakh metric tonnes, and after their government came to power, these stocks were increased to 22 to 23 lakh metric tonnes, effectively bringing fertilizers from the Centre.
Removed price differential between dealers and societies...
The minister stated that there are about 12,000 fertilizer sales outlets across the state. Out of these, he explained that only about 900 are societies. He stated that about 40 years ago, when communication and transport facilities were not well developed in rural areas, the government used to bear the transport charges of fertilizers to societies for the convenience of farmers. He said transport and communication facilities have significantly improved in the state now, and the conditions that existed previously do not exist today. Therefore, the minister explained, the system of the government bearing transport charges for societies has been withdrawn.
The minister said there used to be some difference in urea prices at dealers and societies in the past, due to which farmers mostly went to buy urea at societies itself, increasing rush there and causing hardships to farmers. He stated that the government has taken measures so that farmers can buy urea anywhere at the same price. The minister asserted that currently, arrangements have been made so that farmers can purchase urea at a uniform rate anywhere in the state. The minister clarified on this occasion that care will be taken to ensure tenant farmers do not face difficulties in booking fertilizers either.
