Fertilizer shortage, power cuts to hit MP crops

The state is the third-largest producer of wheat.

Cold weather, power cuts and fertilizer shortage are likely to keep rabi output stagnant. The third-largest producer of wheat, Madhya Pradesh, is expecting 14.33 million tonnes rabi production this year.

As against the targeted acreage of 9.3 million hectares, sowing has been done over 9.46 million hectares, slightly lower than the previous year’s 9.48 million hectares.

“We have completed sowing in all fifty districts. Crops like wheat, gram and mustard are expected to cross targets,” a senior official in the agriculture and farmers’ welfare department told Business Standard.

Wheat production is estimated at 9.05 million tonnes as against the target of 8.09 million tonnes as acreage has crossed 4.2 million hectares this year. Similarly, gram or chana output is estimated at 3.44 million tonnes as against the target of 3.38 million tonnes. However, mustard output is estimated to fall short of the target of 945,000 tonnes at 925,000 tonnes.

Urea shortage is around 400,000-500,000 tonnes as against the demand of 900,000 tonnes. “Monthly allocation from the Centre is normal, yet falling short of the demand,” the official said. Farmers in the state say fake fertilizers and seeds, power shortage and poor irrigation mean there is little chance of productivity increasing.

“The entire Malwa belt was very cold this year, which destroyed the wheat crop. Germination was good but the crop turned black due to frost,” said Gulab Singh Verma, a farmer and ITC’s e-choupal sanchalak. The government is yet to estimate the damage due to cold weather.

The demand for single super phosphate, mixed fertilizers and other fertilizers is also on a rise.

The DAP supply is 323,000 tonnes as against the demand of 400,000 tonnes. Single super phosphate’s supply is 113,000 tonnes as against the demand of 330,000 tonnes while only 25,000 tonnes potash fertilizers have been supplied as against the demand of 50,000 tonnes.