Kharif use of urea may rise 10%

The Centre has pegged urea requirement for the April-September kharif season at 13.2 million tonne, up 10 per cent from 11.9 million tonne a year ago, a senior government official said today.

The requirement for di-ammonium phosphate, commonly known as DAP, is estimated at 4 million tonne, and that of muriate of potash, or MoP, at 1.65 million tonne, the official said. In the last kharif season, farmers consumed about 3.2 million tonne DAP and 1.3 million tonne MoP.

The official said the government already has about 2 million tonne urea, 1.1 million tonne DAP and 1.4 million tonne MoP stocks for the kharif season.

"Fertiliser supply will not be a problem this year, as we have adequate stocks to meet the expected requirement," the official said.

He said the deficit in DAP will be easily made up after taking into account imports and indigenous production.

In the last kharif season, India imported about 1.8 million tonne DAP. This season, DAP imports are seen lower at about 730,000 tonne in the wake of high carryover stocks.

The official said states have been asked to maintain a fertiliser buffer this year to ward off any shortages.

"We have promised states we will ensure they have 75 per cent of their total fertiliser requirement at the beginning of each month. The balance 25 per cent will be given to them by the 15th of every month," the official said.

He said the states would have to closely monitor fertiliser sales at the district and zonal levels to ensure equitable distribution.