Amid the ongoing DAP fertiliser crisis in Haryana, the Centre has allocated 1.10 lakh metric tonne (LMT) DAP to farmers. Of this, 40,000 MT have already been dispatched from ports to the state and are expected to arrive in different districts by November 7, officials said. The entire allocation is expected to reach Haryana by November 17. Haryana government officials said that Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has consistently been in touch with Union minister JP Nadda to ensure timely supply of the allocated fertiliser to the state. The projected total consumption of DAP stands at 2.6 lakh MT in Haryana for this season. Haryana additional chief secretary (agriculture) Raja Sekhar Vundu told The Indian Express on Saturday that farmers have utilised 1.15 lakh MT DAP fertilizer in October this year compared to 1.19 lakh MT during the corresponding period last year. “This year the Centre allocated 85,000 MT DAP to the state in October against the promise of 1.10 LMT supply. However, the state already had 24,500 MT DAP fertilizer. That way, the state has no shortage of DAP fertilizer and the farmers need not to worry,” Vundu added. Officials added that Haryana has received a substantial supply of 60,000 MT of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), with 29,000 already distributed to farmers and the remaining stock strategically positioned at market places. NPK is a balanced fertilizer providing all essential nutrients and is recommended as an effective substitute for DAP, officials said. The Rabi season officially commenced on October 1, marking a pivotal moment for Haryana's agricultural sector. With targets set, wheat is projected to be sown across an impressive 25 lakh hectares, while oil seed crops will cover a substantial 10 lakh hectares. Officials said that 80 per cent of oil seed crop sowing has already been completed, and wheat sowing is progressing at a brisk pace. The farmers who have sown mustard this season have been desperate for the supply of DAP fertilizer. At several places, the police were called to control the crowd of farmers who had gathered in front of the offices of cooperative societies for the fertilizer. At one place in Bhiwani district, the coupons for the distribution of DAP were distributed from Tosham police station recently. The officials say the shortage was the outcome of the panic among Haryana farmers with the reports of shortage of the fertilizer across the country. With wheat season also beginning in the state, the Haryana government has made its preparations for the supply of Urea fertilizer too. This season, the projected total consumption of Urea stands at 11LMT and the state already boasts a robust inventory of 4.26 lakh MT of the fertiliser. Urea is India’s most widely used fertiliser, with its consumption/sales rising from 26.7 million tonnes (mt) to 35.7 mt between 2009-10 and 2022-23. Punjab and Haryana farmers growing paddy usually mix 5 kg of zinc sulphate (having 33% Zn content) with a 45-kg bag of urea per acre 10-12 days after transplanting.
