DAP shortage dampens rabi crop prospects

“For wheat, astatine slightest 1 50-kg container of DAP is required per acre and this has to beryllium applied astatine the clip of sowing on with the seeds. Right now, some DAP and 12:32:16 (complex fertiliser) are successful abbreviated supply. I anticipation the concern volition amended erstwhile plantings instrumentality disconnected successful November (post-Diwali),” said Pritam Singh Hanjra, a husbandman from Urlana Khurd colony successful Madlauda tehsil of Haryana’s Panipat district.

DAP contains 46 per cent phosphorus oregon P, a nutrient crops request astatine the aboriginal maturation signifier of basal constitution and development. Alternatives to DAP see analyzable fertilisers containing nitrogen (N), P, potassium (K) and sulphur (S) successful varying proportions, specified arsenic 12:32:16:0, 10:26:26:0, 20:20:0:13 and azygous ace phosphate oregon SSP (0:16:0:11). These person overmuch little P contented compared to DAP.

While determination is inactive clip for wheat sowing, murphy plantings person already commenced. A tuber harvest that grows underground, murphy requires 3 bags of DAP per acre. “Farmers who negociate to get DAP are having to ammunition retired Rs 1,600-1,650 per bag, much than the government-fixed maximum retail terms (MRP) of Rs 1,350,” said Doongar Singh Chaudhary, a acold store proprietor astatine Khandauli, a ample potato-growing loop adjacent Agra successful Uttar Pradesh.

While precocious prices – array potatoes are selling from acold stores astatine Rs 1,800-2,200/quintal – person made farmers precise keen to works this time, they besides person to wage much for DAP and seed. “Seed murphy prices are presently Rs 2,000-2,500/quintal, whereas past twelvemonth it was lone Rs 1,000-1,200,” added Chaudhary.

According to authoritative data, the all-India income of DAP, astatine 45.72 lakh tonnes (lt) during April-September 2024, were 27.2 per cent, little than the 62.83 lt for April-September 2023. Imports (19.67 lt versus 34.53 lt) and home accumulation (21.53 lt versus 23.29 lt) of the fertiliser, too, were little for this play comparative to past year.

Sales of SSP fertiliser besides fell to 23.55 lt during April-September 2024, from 29 lt during April-September 2023. However, income of some urea (189.11 lt versus 183.95 lt), analyzable fertilisers (72.49 lt versus 61.36 lt) and muriate of potash (9.27 lt versus 7.74 lt) were higher during the archetypal six months of 2024-25, compared to April-September 2023-24.

The shortage of DAP is being blamed connected higher planetary prices, aggravated by the authorities argumentation of fixing a debased MRP with inadequate subsidy concession to alteration imports.

At the existent MRP of Rs 1,350 per container (Rs 27,000 per tonne) and subsidy of Rs 21,911, the gross realisation for companies comes to Rs 48,911 per tonne. On the different hand, the landed terms of the DAP imports contracted past from Saudi Arabia and Morocco was 642-644 dollars per tonne oregon Rs 53,930-54,100. Adding import duty, bagging, larboard handling, interest, trader margins different costs volition instrumentality it to astir Rs 65,000 per tonne. That makes imports unviable, particularly for backstage players.