Muktsar, November 17

The optimum time to sow wheat ended on Tuesday, but the shortage of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser in Muktsar district continues. The sowing season starts from November 1 and lasts till December 10, but the best time is considered till November 15. Against the total required of 31,350 MT of DAP, just 17,631 MT has arrived in the district till today, which means there is a shortage of 44 per cent. In such a situation, a maximum of five bags of DAP, weighing 50 kg each, are being given to a farmer.

Gurpreet Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Muktsar, said, “The temperature is still favourable for wheat sowing. The Agriculture Minister today held an online meeting with all Chief Agriculture Officers and assured that the fresh stock of DAP will be arranged soon.”

He added, “The DAP required for October and November is 26,640 MT.” On alternative to DAP, he said single super phosphate (SSP) and nitrogen phosphorus potassium (NPK) mixture too could be used.

Meanwhile, long queues of farmers were witnessed at the IFFCO centre in Malout town. “As the fresh stock of DAP was expected to arrive today, farmers had started reaching the IFFCO centre last night. They spent all night in open. The government should arrange DAP at the earliest,” said Ravneet Brar, spokesperson, BKU (Kadian). “We need 55 kg of DAP an acre. However, we are getting almost nothing and that too after standing in long queues,” said Gurjant Singh, farmer. — TNS