Acutely short of fertiliser, Punjab sends SOS to Centre

Sinha, sources said, told Nadda that an area of 35 lakh hectares will be sown under wheat crop during ensuing Rabi season, and 5.50 lakh MT of DAP was required. The state had only received 40,000 MT, which was too little considering the magnitude of sowing of wheat.

There is a shortage of DAP in the international market. The state government has been looking at alternatives also recently. Punjab apprehends that with assembly elections around the corner in BJP-led Haryana, the Centre may flush Haryana with DAP — a basic nutrient for Rabi crops — to appease the Jat voters, sources said.

CM Mann, in his letter, had written that there was a shortfall of 5.1 lakh MT of DAP. The letter stated, “An area of about 35 lakh hectares will be sown under wheat crop during ensuing Rabi season which requires about 5.50 lakh MT of DAP fertiliser against which the receipts as on July 1, 2024, are close to 40,000 MT only, leaving a shortfall of 5.1 lakh MT. As the remaining DAP quantity is huge, its early pre-positioning is necessary which always helps us in making the supplies available to the farmers of the state at the time of application….”

After the meeting, Sinha, in a statement, said that Nadda has assured that there would be no shortage of DAP fertiliser and other phosphatic fertilisers, and that adequate quantities would be supplied to Punjab over the next two months as per demand. “We are confident that this allocation, combined with the assured supply, will meet our farmers’ demands,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sinha also held a meeting with Rajat Kumar Mishra, Secretary, Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, to ensure the availability of fertilisers in Punjab.

The CM’s letter also stated that “DAP is first required in potato sowing areas during the second fortnight of September and further for wheat sowing which takes place from mid-October to first fortnight of November. DAP is an essential input for ensuring optimum production of wheat and in order to ensure timely and smooth availability of DAP to farmers and to prevent any kind of panic buying, it is of utmost importance that sufficient quantity of DAP is stored well before the consumption period in the state by the end of October”.

The letter further stated, “The shortage of DAP can affect the sowing of wheat to a large extent and may have wider economic and social ramifications. This would worsen the financial position of the already debt-ridden farmers of Punjab. Hence, it is our primary responsibility to make arrangements of DAP well in advance so that the farmers may get supplies in time and are saved from undue hardships.”

In the letter the CM stated, “I would, therefore, request you to kindly advise the authority concerned to move the allocated stocks during August 2024 and further allocate the remaining quantity of 5.1 lakh MT of DAP during first fortnight of November 2024.”

In the letter, the CM had also reminded the Centre of Punjab’s significant contribution to the country’s breadbasket. “As you are aware that Punjab is nation’s breadbasket which contributes significantly to the central food pool, providing approximately 21% of paddy and 31% of wheat. This achievement is largely attributed to the consistent supply of fertilisers in required quantities.”