UP raises pitch over fertiliser shortage

Uttar Pradesh has raised the pitch over the prospect of fertiliser shortage in the state for the coming rabi season.

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

Against UP’s demand of 670,000 tonnes (LT) of fertiliser varieties, the state is likely to get 30 per cent less fertiliser at about 47 LT. To highlight the issue, UP chief minister Mayawati has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to facilitate adequate fertiliser supply.

Fertiliser includes urea, Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP), Mono-ammonium Phosphate, Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium, Muriate of Potash and Single Super Phosphate.

Currently, there is 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 200 LT. Other inputs such as gas are also scarce.

Addressing a seminar on ‘Agriculture and Cooperative Development’ organised by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) yesterday, IFFCO managing director U S Awasthi had also said fertiliser-based farming was being unsustainable in the long run.

Stressing on regular soil testing to ascertain specific need of nutrients, he said chemical fertiliser be used judiciously along with traditional manure and organic nutrients, such as cow dung, compost etc.

“Fertiliser is in short supply all over the world and China has mandated 25 per cent use of compost manure, which is giving it substantial agricultural produce,” Awasthi added.

This year, UP had demanded 40 LT and 12 LT of urea and DAP respectively, besides other soil nutrients. However, the state was approved 33 LT and 9.15 LT of urea and DAP respectively and the composite supply standing at about 53 LT.

Besides, the union fertiliser and chemical ministry apprised UP that the actual supply to the state would be at par with last year, which had stood at 47.41 LT.

The state is witness to a bumper kharif season this year with total production estimated at over 170 LT compared to about 150 LT last year. Likewise, the state is expecting a significant spurt in rabi production, especially in the backdrop of Green Revolution Project underway in 28 districts in eastern UP.

Meanwhile, Kisan Jagriti Manch president Sudhir Panwar said increase in urea price would escalate input cost of different crops. Earlier, the Centre had brought urea under Nutrient Based Subsidy.

“The farmers are already stressed on rising input costs. The agriculture labour cost is almost double in last two years and the cost of diesel used in irrigation and tilling is increased substantially,” he told Business Standard.

“The fertiliser price decontrol will introduce price volatility in agriculture and unless it is included in the minimum support price (MSP) and fair and remunerative price (FRP), the farmers will suffer as the price of their produce are fixed by the government and market mainly on the basis of demand and supply basis and not input cost,” Panwar said.