Farmers scramble for DAP, cops take up distribution in Jind, Bhiwani dists

There has been a scramble among farmers for DAP fertiliser that is required for sowing of rabi crops, mainly wheat and mustard, in the entire state. Amid complains from the farmers about the shortage of DAP fertiliser and the mismanagement in its distribution, the authorities have to seek help from the police in distribution in Jind and Bhiwani districts.

Agriculture Department officials however claimed that there had been no shortage and the supply of DAP was being ensured as per the requirement of the farmers across the state. However, there are also reports of lack of coordination in the local administration and the companies supplying the fertiliser which has resulted in mismanagement at some districts, the officials admitted.

According to the information from the Agriculture Department, the total DAP consumption in Haryana was 2,10,380 metric tonnes (MT) from October to December last year. Thus, officials estimate that a similar amount of DAP is also required for the current season as well.

In October 2023, 1,19,470 MT of DAP was sold to farmers. But in the corresponding month of October (from October 1 to November 2) this year, 1,15,197 MT of DAP was sold to them, which was 4,273 MT less. The officials say this was a small amount and it could not be termed as a shortage in the supply to farmers. The data further showed the availability of 23,655 MT of DAP in the stock. The officials say it is a fluctuating figure as the supply of fertilisers continues to come along with the sale in the districts.

Farmers however alleged that there had been a black marketing of DAP as private players had been offering DAP bags at a premium of Rs 500 to Rs 600 per bag. A young farmer in Kirtan village, Amit Kumar, informed that he bought 10 bags of DAP at a rate of Rs 1,900 per bag. “I was in desperate need of DAP for sowing mustard but could not get the fertiliser. Thus I decided to purchase it in the open market at a premium rate,” he informed The Tribune today. The government rate of per bag of DAP is fixed at Rs 1,350.

Even today, farmers staged protests in Loharu town of Bhiwani district alleging a short supply of DAP. The farmers said there was no message from officials as they had been standing in a queue outside the shop since morning.

In Jind district too, the farmers have been resorting to protests in Uchana and Narwana subdivisional towns for the last couple of days. In Uchana, a woman farmer Santosh said that she came to Uchana town at 7 AM to purchase DAP. Another farmer Mandeep said that he could get only