Punjab is currently grappling with a severe shortage of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer, with a shortfall of 5.1 lakh metric tonnes, threatening the upcoming Rabi season. In response to this urgent crisis, Punjab’s Special Chief Secretary KAP Sinha met with the Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers JP Nadda in New Delhi on Friday. During the meeting, the Centre assured that adequate quantities of DAP and other essential fertilizers would be supplied to Punjab in time to meet the state's agricultural needs.
Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann personally reached out to the Union Minister Nadda, highlighting the state’s dire need for DAP. With only 40,000 metric tonnes supplied by July 1, against a requirement of 5.5 lakh metric tonnes for sowing wheat across 35 lakh hectares, the shortage has raised concerns over potential economic losses due to reduced wheat production.
During the crucial meeting, KAP Sinha, accompanied by senior officials from Punjab's Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department and Punjab Markfed, emphasized the need for immediate action. He warned that any delay in the supply of DAP fertilizer could severely impact wheat sowing, which is set to begin in October, following the September potato planting.
The Union Minister assured Punjab that there would be no shortage of DAP fertilizer or other phosphatic fertilizers. He promised that adequate supplies would be dispatched to Punjab over the next two months, ensuring that the state's farmers would have the necessary resources for a successful Rabi season. “Our discussions were fruitful, and we have been assured that there will be no shortage,” Sinha stated, expressing confidence that the crisis would be averted.
In preparation for the Rabi season, Punjab has been allocated 4.50 lakh metric tonnes of DAP, 1.50 lakh metric tonnes of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), and 1.50 lakh metric tonnes of SSP (Single superphosphate) fertilizers by the Government of India. This allocation is crucial, as Punjab contributed 46 percent of the wheat to the central pool in the 2023-24 season and any disruption in the supply chain could have significant repercussions on both the state's and the nation’s food security.
