Saurashtra faces severe shortage of fertiliser

Elsewhere, fertiliser was sold at the Ambalash village depot under police protection. But due to the huge gap in demand and supply, a minor scuffle ensued, as many farmers were unable to get the fertiliser, and the sale was postponed.

According to the farmers, the demand for fertiliser rise to 400 tonnes during the winter. In the current season though, only 35 to 40 tonnes of stock, hardly 10 per cent of the total demand, reached the depot. Since the last couple of months, fertiliser containing DAP Di-Ammonium phosphate and NPK sodium phosphorus potash has disappeared from the market.

Due to the short supply of manure, whatever stock has been received in the region is now being sold under police protection. Officials have, however, said that during the next 15 days adequate stock of fertiliser will be arriving, which will be enough to satisfy the demand.

Harshad Ribadiya, Congress leader from Visavadar town, said: 8220;Farmers were queuing up for the last five days for fertiliser. In spite of the long wait, they did not get the required fertiliser.8221;

He alleged that during the BJP rule, farmers could not even get fertilisers on time. The Congress has submitted a memorandum to the mamalatdar in this regard and warned that unless the situation improves, the party will resort to a stern agitation.