60 per cent of required DAP fertiliser already received by district admn

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Jitendra Jorwal said today that the district administration had received 60 per cent of the required diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser for farmers in Ludhiana district.

Jorwal said for the sowing of wheat (covering 2,43,563 hectares), potato (covering 20,485 hectares) and other crops (covering 4,529 hectares) in the district, a total of 39,000 metric tonnes of DAP was needed. Till today, 25,400 metric tonnes of fertiliser had arrived in the district, which includes 23,400 metric tonnes of DAP and 2,000 metric tonnes of substitute fertiliser.

The Deputy Commissioner reassured farmers that the remaining stock of fertiliser was expected to arrive in the district within the next few days, urging them not to worry about DAP availability. He also mentioned that orders had been issued to fertiliser sellers to ensure that farmers were not pressured into buying other chemicals alongside DAP. Failure to comply with the same would lead to strict action.

All private dealers and cooperative societies have been instructed to display their stock of DAP and other fertilisers prominently outside their shops and godowns. Additionally, they are required to ensure that all bills issued to farmers include sellers’ mobile numbers. DAP is available at a regulated price of Rs 1,350 per 50 kg bag.

Meanwhile, Chief Agricultural Officer Parkash Singh had encouraged farmers to consider alternative fertilisers to DAP for sowing wheat and other crops. He advised that single superphosphate, which contains 16 per cent phosphorus, could be used as a substitute. Three bags of this fertiliser was required for every one bag of DAP. This alternative also provides additional sulphur.

Similarly, NPK123216 contains 32 per cent phosphorus, and one-and-a-half bags of this fertiliser was equivalent to one bag of DAP, offering added potash which is absent in DAP. Furthermore, triple superphosphate contains 46 per cent phosphorus and can be used in equal quantity to DAP while providing additional sulphur benefits. While NPK102626 contains 26 per cent total phosphorus and can also meet phosphorus requirements of crops, offering the added advantage of potash, which is not present in DAP.

Remaining stock to arrive in few days

Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal reassured farmers that the remaining stock of fertiliser was expected to arrive in the district within the next few days, urging them not to worry about diammonium phosphate fertiliser availability.