Fertiliser shortage in 5 states

There is a shortage of fertilisers, which is likely to affect crop production in Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, according to farmers of these states.

The farmers have complained of shortage of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertiliser over the past few weeks. The scarcity of the fertiliser has led to an increase in the price of DAP and the farmers are forced to pay a premium of Rs 200 per bag, purchased in the black.

According to sources there is a requirement of 5.5 metric tonnes (MT) of DAP for rabi crop, of which 4.8 lakh (MT) is required for sowing of wheat on time in October and November. However, these states have a stock of only 1.5 MT of DAP. In October, the Centre had allocated only 1.97 MT of DAP, against a demand of 2.75 MT of the fertiliser.

The Punjab government had demanded an additional allocation of 1.5 lakh MT of DAP for October. Recently, Punjab Agriculture minister Randeep Singh Nabha met Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya on the issue and was assured of adequate supply. In neighbouring Haryana, farmers blocked roads following the DAP shortage.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had also met Mandaviya seeking more quantity of DAP. However, Haryana Agriculture Minister J P Dalal has claimed that there is no shortage of DAP in the state. But according to sources, around 3 lakh MT of DAP is required and as of now, 1.2 lakh MT of the fertiliser has arrived in the state and 1.35 lakh tonnes will reach shortly. The state has demanded an additional 50,000 tonnes of DAP this time.

Madhya Pradesh too is facing shortage of DAP.