DAP shortage looms large over Punjab

As rabi season is set to commence, a shortage of diammonium phosphate (DAP) looms large over the state.

Since this fertiliser is supplied to states by the Centre, sources said the government does not seem to be in a good position to import the DAP amid soaring prices and stand-off with China.

Though Punjab is regularly being released DAP each month — 25,000 metric tonnes (MT) in July, 51,000 MT in August and 35,000 MT in September so far — officials fear that overall demand of 5.50 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) for rabi season may not be met by the Centre.

Thus, the AAP government has been knocking at the doors of the Centre to supply 5.50 LMT DAP at the earliest. At present, the state has only 1.10 LMT of DAP.

Around 70,000 MT of this would be used by potato growers in Doaba in early October, leaving little quantity for sowing wheat, which begins from mid-October and ends in mid-November.

Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said all efforts were being made to ensure adequate supply of fertilisers for rabi season. “There should be no need for panic,” he said.

Sources said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had been in regular touch with Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers JP Nadda and had urged him to send more stock of the DAP as wheat sowing first begins in Punjab followed by Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

However, in the wake of the shortfall, the state officials have been told by the Centre to convince farmers to opt for DAP substitutes like 151515 of nitrogen phosphorus potassium (NPK), 161616 of NPK, 2020013 of nitrogen phosphorus potassium sulphur (NPPS) or single super phosphate, which is manufactured in Rajasthan.

A senior officer on condition of anonymity said, “Even the substitutes are in short supply. Rajasthan, which manufactures single super phosphate, has decided to use 70 per cent of it in their state. Haryana has decided to sell 40 per cent of these substitutes only through HAFED. The substitutes have lower percentage of phosphorus, thus more quantity is required. The situation looks grim as of now. Though we are likely to get another 2 LMT of DAP till November, it may not be sufficient to meet the demand,” he said.