56 cooperative societies go defunct in Amritsar district, DAP crisis deepens

Though sowing of wheat has picked up pace in several parts of the district, the farmers are running from pillar to post to lay their hands on a bag of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser.

One of the reasons behind such a situation is that around 56 cooperative societies in the district have either gone defunct or have not cleared their dues with Markfed — the biggest nodal agency to supply fertilisers in the state.

Thus, farmers have been forced to pay Rs 1,700 to Rs 2,000 for a bag of DAP, which has an MRP of Rs 1,350, by shopkeepers who bundle unrequired chemicals with every bag of fertiliser.

Last year, the state government had earmarked 60 per cent sale of the DAP from cooperative societies and 40 per cent through private traders.

Kuljeet Singh of Malawali village said, “The Khairabad Cooperative Society is lying defunct. Thus, we are dependent on private traders for fertilisers. Farmers are being charged Rs 500 to Rs 700 extra per bag of DAP.”

On the one hand, the state government reduced the allocation from 80 per cent to 60 per cent of cooperative socities, and on the other, increased quota of private traders from 20 per cent to 40 per cent, said miffed farmers. Harjap Singh from Sarai Amanat Khan in Tarn Taran said, “Some shopkeepers are even tagging unnecessary items with alternative fertilisers.”

Chief Agriculture Officer Tajinder Singh said the shopkeepers had been warned against tagging of unnecessary items with fertilisers. He said the farmers should obtain bills for every purchase from the shopkeepers.

He added that inspections were underway at fertiliser shops and godowns to curb illegal practice.