Fertiliser shortage may hit crop yield in MP

INDORE: Despite sufficient rainfall this season, shortage of fertiliser may affect the state government's plan for bumper rabi season. At present, farmers are facing a shortage of fertiliser, affecting the sowing.
The state has reportedly faced 30 to 35 per cent shortage of fertiliser, including DAP (diammonium phosphate) and urea. Such is the situation that farmers are desperately moving from one place to another to get fertiliser.Moreover, the hike in prices of fertilisers has hit farmers hard.
"Since the last one week, I have been moving from one shop to another for DAP fertiliser, but it is just not available," said Charan Singh, a farmer from Sanawdiya village in Indore district. He said the 50-kg bag, which was available for Rs 500, is now not even available for Rs 1,000. He said the fertiliser was not even reaching cooperative societies as per demand.
Sources close to fertiliser traders say that there is a shortage of more than 2 lakh tonne DAP in Madhya Pradesh. "As far as the country is concerned, about 35 lakh tonne DAP is not available," he said, adding that it is because of two reasons-fall in import of fertiliser by 20 lakh tonne and the DAP manufacturer units in India have under-produced fertiliser by 15 lakh tonne.
Moreover, a month later, the farmers would require urea in the second phase after sowing. Under the present circumstances, urea is almost not available in open market. In the state alone, there is a shortage of 3 to 3.5 lakh tonne urea.
Apart from DAP, potash and NPK prices, too, have gone through the roof. A 50-kg potash bag which was being sold in Rs 250 will now be available for Rs 600. And the same of NPK which was available for Rs 400 is now being sold at Rs 800.
In last two years, the centre is trying to reduce its control over fertiliser, but the state government has put many restrictions. "Shortage of fertiliser and price hike are due to restrictions imposed by the state government," said Kantilal Bhuria, state Congress president and former union minister for agriculture. He said, "Major portion of fertiliser, supplied by companies, is being procured by the societies through the state government. The government is directing the companies. As a result, only 25 per cent of supplied fertiliser is available in the open market." According to sources, the companies are sending fertiliser to other states where there are lesser restrictions.
The delayed declaration of rates of fertilisers by the centre has been one of the major reasons for growing gap in demand and supply. It has affected the agreement between fertiliser companies and manufacturers. Another major reason, no concrete step is taken to increase the production of fertilizer. For the last one year, new investment is coming in fertiliser sector due to government policies and is expected to results in three to four years.