PATIALA/FEROZEPUR/FAZILKA: With over one lakh MT urea reaching Punjab in the last two days after resumption of train services on Monday, farmers and pesticide dealers heaved a sigh of relief. According to Markfed officials, free movement of trains will ensure smooth supply of urea in Punjab. The state already has 5.47 lakh MT of DAP in stock.
Shortage of urea will be overcome in the next few days with fertiliser companies sending urea bags, which are needed for wheat sowing. In the last two days, the state got 28 rakes that were in transit while 12 new rakes are on the way. One rake contains 2,700 MT of fertiliser. With 28 rakes, the state has got 75,600 MT urea, over 70% of shortfall. Also, 32,400 MT more is on the way.
Fertiliser supply officer Amarinderjit Verma said the district needs 17,232.65 MT of DAP at present. So far, only 54.68% or 9,422.25 MT has been supplied. Besides, 35,052.86 MT urea was required in the district, of which only 11.93% or 4,180.8 MT was supplied. Verma said the two rakes have been sanctioned for Patiala district, of which one will be supplied in Rajpura and the other in Nabha.
Meanwhile, three rakes of freight trains carrying 7,830 metric tonnes of fertiliser arrived at Ferozepur on Thursday. Hardev Singh, chief agriculture officer, Ferozepur said expected to arrive in the district shortly.
After a long hiatus, railway loading yards at Abohar and Fazilka bustled with activity. IPL’s DAP and urea fertiliser reached Abohar by train. The consignment contains 1,200 metric tonnes of urea and 2,500 metric tonnes of DAP, a much-needed fertiliser. Arrival of a full rake has also dispelled fears of shortage in the district.
Chief agriculture officer Surinder Singh said another rake of fertiliser arrived in Fazilka. It contained 2,600 MT of urea, which was being sent to cooperative societies so that it could be distributed among farmers without delay.
Deputy registrar, cooperative societies, Sarveshvar Singh Mohi said, “According to the instructions of the state, we have been supplying 80% to cooperative societies and 20% to private dealers.”