Mayawati's missive to PM over fertiliser shortage

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati has written another letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh raising the issue of fertiliser shortage in the state.

Earlier, she had written to the PM on September 27 over the prospect of fertiliser shortage in the state for impending rabi sowing. She reiterated that the Centre should ensure adequate supply of fertiliser to UP for supplementing expected farm output and increasing farmers’ income.

This year, UP had demanded four million tonne (mt) and 1.2 mt of urea and Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) respectively, besides other soil nutrients. However, the state was approved 3.3 mt and 9.15 lakh tonnes of urea and DAP respectively and the composite supply standing at about 5.3 mt.

However, against UP’s total demand of 6.7 million tonnes of fertiliser, the state is likely to actually get 30 per cent less fertiliser at about 4.7 mt.

Mayawati alleged that despite UP’s persistent demand, the Centre was not cooperating with the state. Earlier, the state agriculture minister had met Union agriculture minister and chemical and fertilisers minister in this regard.

UP’s demand needs to be seen in the context of bumper kharif production this year, and good monsoon season promising an equally ‘fruitful’ rabi season ahead.

Currently, there is an acute shortage of fertiliser in market and the Centre is hard pressed to make adequate provision to the various state governments. India does not have potash reserves, which is one of the vital fertiliser components. India’s current urea production capacity is only 20 mt. Other inputs such as gas are also scarce.

The state is witness to bumper kharif season with total production estimated at over 17 mt compared to 15 mt last year. Likewise, the state is expecting a significant spurt in rabi production, especially in face of the Green Revolution Project underway in 28 districts in eastern UP.