Punjab farmers forced to buy other products with subsidised urea and DAP as ‘tagging’ persists

“The sowing of potatoes is in full swing, and many farmers in touch with me are being told to buy a bottle of nano urea or nano DAP, costing Rs 220 each, after purchasing five bags of urea or DAP,” said Amarinder Singh, former president of PAU Kisan Club, while speaking to The Indian Express.

“Farmers have no choice but to buy these bottles to get the subsidised fertiliser stock. This time, the matter has reached the Union agriculture minister. Let’s see what happens next,” he added.

Most agricultural societies and fertiliser dealers tell farmers that they have no choice, as the stock has been sent to them bundled with such products, according to Amarinder Singh. “But who is sending this stock with tagged products? It needs to be investigated because subsidised urea and DAP come from the Centre,” he said.

A 50 kg bag of subsidised DAP costs around Rs 1,350, and farmers say one bottle of nano DAP (of Rs 220) is being compulsorily sold with every five bags of DAP. Similarly, a 45 kg bag of urea costs around Rs 250, and if you buy five bags, you have to buy one bottle of nano urea for Rs 220 as well.

Amarjeet Singh, a vegetable farmer from Ferozepur, said that at times, sulphur or zinc bottles were sold along with urea or DAP. “I think it’s a deliberate attempt to discourage farmers from buying subsidised fertilisers so that they switch to other products,” he said.

Sukhjinder Singh Rajan, a farmer from Abohar, recalled that in November last year, farmers stopped a train carrying urea from Abohar to Gidderbaha when there was a severe shortage of fertilisers during the bypoll in Gidderbaha. “This time, the stock hasn’t even arrived yet, and we have already learnt that tagged products will again be included,” he said.

Rajan questioned the Union minister’s statement, stating that fertiliser stocks were sent to many agricultural societies by the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) and Krishak Bharati Cooperative (KRIBHCO)—both central government organisations. “They need to clarify,” he said.

The sowing of wheat is set to begin by the end of October and will continue till the end of November. Many farmers have already started purchasing urea in advance to prepare their fields. In the Ajnala area of Amritsar, AAP MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal recently held a meeting with officials to prevent any black marketing of urea during the upcoming wheat season.

Dhaliwal met officials following complaints received from farmers regarding the overpricing of fertilisers in the market. He warned that people involved in black marketing would be booked.

“The shortage of urea and DAP is a common issue. Black marketing flourishes whenever there is scarcity, and this pattern repeats every season. The sowing season is just starting, and we are already facing the same problems,” Amarjeet Singh said.