Decode politics: Why Punjab fertiliser shortage this year smells of Haryana polls

The BJP arsenic good arsenic the Centre person been astatine the receiving extremity of farmers’ wrath implicit ineligible warrant for Minimum Support Price (MSP) successful Haryana.

* How overmuch DAP does Punjab need?

Punjab requires astir 5.5 lakh tonnes of DAP for the Rabi season, which extends from October to April. As per a Punjab Agriculture Department official, this comprises the bulk of the state’s yearly request of DAP of 8.5 lakh tonnes.

The shortage presently is estimated to beryllium 3.5 lakh tonnes, and is threatening to disrupt sowing operations for murphy and wheat. DAP needs to beryllium utilized astatine the clip of sowing. While the sowing for potatoes usually begins successful mid-October, wheat is sowed successful aboriginal November.

While Punjab got 80,000 tonnes of DAP successful September, 1.5 lakh tonnes are expected this period — inactive acold abbreviated of the 2.7 lakh tonnes requested by the state.

The Joint Director of Agriculture (Inputs), Dr Gurjit Singh Brar, confirmed the shortage, adding: “We tin tackle the shortage if we get further supplies successful October and November. We person arranged for murphy sowing and if we get the DAP, we tin guarantee wheat cultivation besides goes connected smoothly.”

* Have Haryana polls affected the crisis?

As per a Punjab authorities official, the Centre has ensured that Haryana is prioritised successful the proviso of DAP, keeping the October 5 polls successful mind. “Supplies to Punjab are apt to commencement aft the elections,” a elder authoritative said.

Another elder authoritative said that portion alternatives were providing impermanent relief, “there is simply a immense question connected whether these would beryllium capable to prolong the cultivation backbone of the region”.

With stakes successful some the states, BJP leaders were unwilling to travel connected record. Punjab BJP person and Union Minister of State for Food Processing Ravneet Singh Bittu could not beryllium reached contempt respective attempts.

An MLA of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party successful Punjab, who besides did not privation to travel connected record, said the Punjab authorities “has been regularly sending elder officials to guarantee the timely merchandise of the fertiliser from the Centre”.

Pointing retired that Punjab would request DAP critically successful November, AAP spokesperson Neel Garg said helium was assured they would get the proviso by then.

The Punjab Congress slammed the Centre for the shortage, and accused it of being some anti-jawan (soldiers) and anti-kisan (farmers). “Punjab needs much DAP than Haryana but the Centre is giving precedence to the poll-bound state. The authorities authorities excessively is not advocating farmers’ causes effectively,” Leader of the Opposition successful the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa said.

*How are fertilisers allocated to states?

The Department of Fertilisers controls the movement, organisation and allocation of subsidised chemic fertilisers (urea, DAP, MOP, NPKS) from manufacturing plants and ports, arsenic per state-wise requirements determined by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation and Farmers Welfare. A proviso program is accordingly prepared month-wise.

Besides, biannually, earlier the Kharif and Rabi seasons, assessments are conducted during zonal conferences involving states.

* How overmuch wheat and potatoes bash Punjab cultivate?

In Punjab, wheat is cultivated connected astir 35 lakh hectares, and murphy connected 1 lakh hectares. In Haryana, the full country nether wheat is 24.25 lakh hectares, and nether potatoes, astir 33,043 hectares.

* What are the alternatives and their limitations?

The Punjab authorities has turned to alternatives similar NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash) and TSP (Triple Super Phosphate). However, NPK is much expensive, costing Rs 1,450 per bag, arsenic against the Rs 1,350 for DAP, portion TSP lacks nitrogen. Moreover, NPK and TSP are not disposable successful ample quantities.