Times News Network
Ludhiana: Deputy commissioner Jitendra Jorwal said on Monday that the administration had received 60% of the required diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser for farmers in Ludhiana. Jorwal said that 39,000 metric tonnes of DAP was needed for sowing of wheat (2 lakh hectares), potato (20,485 hectares), and other crops (covering 4,529 hectares). Till date, 25,400 metric tonnes of fertiliser has arrived in the district, including 23,400 metric tonnes of DAP and 2,000 metric tonnes of substitute fertiliser.
The deputy commissioner assured farmers that the remaining stock of fertiliser was expected to arrive within the next few days and urged them not to worry about DAP availability. He also said that orders had been issued to fertiliser sellers to ensure that farmers were not pressured into buying other chemicals alongside DAP and warned that failure to comply would lead to strict action.
All private dealers and cooperative societies have been instructed to display their stock of DAP and other fertilisers prominently outside their shops and godowns. Additionally, they are required to ensure that all bills issued to farmers include sellers’ mobile numbers. DAP is available at a regulated price of Rs 1,350 per 50 kg bag.
Meanwhile, chief agricultural officer Dr Parkash Singh encouraged farmers to consider alternative fertilisers to DAP for sowing of wheat and other crops. He advised that Single Superphosphate, which contains 16% phosphorus, can be used as a substitute and three bags of this fertiliser were needed for every one bag of DAP. This alternative also provides additional sulphur, he said.
NPK123216 contains 32% phosphorus and one and a half bags of this fertiliser are equivalent to one bag of DAP, offering added potash, which is absent in DAP. Moreover, Triple Superphosphate contains 46% phosphorus and can be used in equal quantity to DAP while providing additional sulphur benefits. While NPK102626 contains 26% total phosphorus and can also meet the phosphorus requirements of crops, offering the added advantage of potash, which is not present in DAP.