New Delhi, Oct 19 (UNI) On the intervention of Punjab Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Food Processing Minister Randeep Singh Nabha on the shortage of DAP crisis, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday assured him of supplying 10 rakes of DAP (Diammonium Phosphate), 5 rakes of NPK (Complex Fertilizer) and 2 of SSP (Single Super Phosphate) within three to four days to Punjab.
Considering Punjab's demand the Union Minister also assured Mr Nabha of adequate supply of Urea to Punjab in the coming months of November and December.
Mr Nabha, who called upon Mr Mandaviya at his office here, informed the Union Minister that the total requirement of DAP for rabi crops is 5.50 lakh MT, out of which 4.80 lakh MT is required during the month of October and November for timely sowing of wheat crop. DAP is an essential input for ensuring optimum productivity of wheat, which is sown on an area of about 35 lakh hectares in Punjab.
Mr Nabha said that the state had 0.74 LMT opening stock of DAP on October 1, 2021 as compared to 3.63 LMT last year (October 1, 2020). Union government has allocated only 1.97 LMT of DAP against demand of 2.75 LMT during October-2021. The likely shortfall of this crucial input may appear for the sowing of wheat crop and only 20-25 days have been left for complete sowing of the crop.
Punjab has demanded an additional allocation of 1.50 LMT of DAP to the state for October-2021 and expedite the supply as soon as possible, he added.
Giving details of Union Government`s supply plan and actual dispatches for the month of October 2021, Mr Nabha told that Punjab got only 80,951 MT DAP against the allocation plan of 1,97,250 MT thus it got only 41 per cent of the total allocation while state of Haryana got 89 per cent (Supply Plan 58650 Despatched 52155) of total allocation, UP got 170 per cent (Supply Plan 60000 despatched 102201) and Rajasthan got 88 per cent (Supply Plan 67890 Despatched 59936) which shows step motherly treatment meted out with Punjab on part of the Union government.
"We apprised the Union Minister that the Punjab, known as food bowl of the nation, is being allocated much lesser quantity of DAP in comparison to Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. We have been writing the union government for the last six months on this sensitive issue. We also informed the Union Minister that shortage of DAP on the onset of Rabi season can lead to farmers' unrest", said Mr Nabha expressing hope that the Union government would stand by its commitment of supplying DAP to the state.
While interacting with media after the meeting, Punjab Cabinet Minister also revealed that Union Minister said that the shortage of DAP was due to non-availability of the fertilizers in the international market and the union government would ensure adequate supply of the same to Punjab.
"During the meeting we also demanded that the Union Government must repeal the contentious farm laws against which the farmers have been protesting for the last one year. The farmers are feeling insecure as they argue that with these farm laws the big corporate houses would get away their farm lands," Mr Nabha said.
On being asked on the issue of Pink bollworm attack on the cotton crop, the Minister said that the Chief Minister had already promised compensation to the farmers. He also informed that in order to save the cotton crop from such kind of attacks in future the state is collaborating with well-known scientist Dr Markandey to adopt latest tube technology.
UNI DB ACL1635