Shortage of DAP worries wheat cultivators

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 2

The shortage of DAP is troubling wheat cultivators as they are unable to sow the crop in absence of the fertiliser. The farmers are making frantic enquiries about the availability of the fertiliser and many even are ready to pay higher prices to get it.

As per the recommendations of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 55 kg DAP per acre should be used at the time of drilling of seed.

Mandeep Singh, a farmer from Tarn Taran, said, “Locally, no fertiliser seller is having DAP. There have been rumours that it could be made available for Rs 1,800 per bag. But if you ask the same person to procure it even at the higher price it is not available.” He added now he is trying to procure the DAP from Gurdaspur as he has learnt that it is available there. The government notified price for DAP is Rs 1,200 per bag (50 kilo)

While the shortage is being faced, farmers fearing that delaying the sowing would result in decrease in optimum moisture level in the soil which is required for germination of seeds and as a result they would have to irrigate the fields.

Joginder Singh, a farmer, said, “After harvesting paddy, some fields have just the right amount of moisture in the soil. These fields are to be sown first before the moisture is lost.” He said if the fields have to be irrigated due to low soil moisture, it delays harvesting by 10 days as time is required for preparing the fields.

An official of National Fertilizer Limited, a Government of India undertaking, on condition of anonymity said, “Due to lack of consensus on subsidy issue, the private companies had not placed tenders. Usually the process begins six months in advance but due to a delay there is a shortage of fertiliser this time.” He, however, added that farmers can use NPK instead of DAP as both have phosphorus, which is required for wheat.