A scarcity of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), a key fertiliser required on the time of sowing, is undermining crop manufacturing prospects for the present rabi season.
This, at the same time as excessive costs, plus a very good monsoon (7.6 per cent above-average rainfall for the nation as a complete throughout June-September) and main reservoirs being stuffed to over 87 per cent of combination storage capability (towards beneath 73 per cent this time final 12 months), have enthused farmers to plant extra space.
“For wheat, at the very least one 50-kg bag of DAP is required per acre and this needs to be utilized on the time of sowing together with the seeds. Proper now, each DAP and 12:32:16 (complicated fertiliser) are briefly provide. I hope the scenario will enhance as soon as plantings take off in November (post-Diwali),” stated Pritam Singh Hanjra, a farmer from Urlana Khurd village in Madlauda tehsil of Haryana’s Panipat district.
DAP accommodates 46 per cent phosphorus or P, a nutrient crops want on the early development stage of root institution and improvement. Options to DAP embrace complicated fertilisers containing nitrogen (N), P, potassium (Ok) and sulphur (S) in various proportions, resembling 12:32:16:0, 10:26:26:0, 20:20:0:13 and single tremendous phosphate or SSP (0:16:0:11). These have a lot much less P content material in comparison with DAP.
Whereas there’s nonetheless time for wheat sowing, potato plantings have already commenced. A tuber crop that grows underground, potato requires 3 luggage of DAP per acre. “Farmers who handle to get DAP are having to shell out Rs 1,600-1,650 per bag, greater than the government-fixed most retail worth (MRP) of Rs 1,350,” stated Doongar Singh Chaudhary, a chilly retailer proprietor at Khandauli, a big potato-growing belt close to Agra in Uttar Pradesh.
Whereas excessive costs – desk potatoes are promoting from chilly shops at Rs 1,800-2,200/quintal – have made farmers very eager to plant this time, additionally they need to pay extra for DAP and seed. “Seed potato costs are at present Rs 2,000-2,500/quintal, whereas final 12 months it was solely Rs 1,000-1,200,” added Chaudhary.
Based on official knowledge, the all-India gross sales of DAP, at 45.72 lakh tonnes (lt) throughout April-September 2024, had been 27.2 per cent, decrease than the 62.83 lt for April-September 2023. Imports (19.67 lt versus 34.53 lt) and home manufacturing (21.53 lt versus 23.29 lt) of the fertiliser, too, had been decrease for this era relative to final 12 months.
Defined
Essential fertiliser
Gross sales of SSP fertiliser additionally fell to 23.55 lt throughout April-September 2024, from 29 lt throughout April-September 2023. Nevertheless, gross sales of each urea (189.11 lt versus 183.95 lt), complicated fertilisers (72.49 lt versus 61.36 lt) and muriate of potash (9.27 lt versus 7.74 lt) had been increased through the first six months of 2024-25, in comparison with April-September 2023-24.
The scarcity of DAP is being blamed on increased world costs, aggravated by the federal government coverage of fixing a low MRP with insufficient subsidy concession to allow imports.
On the present MRP of Rs 1,350 per bag (Rs 27,000 per tonne) and subsidy of Rs 21,911, the gross realisation for firms involves Rs 48,911 per tonne. Then again, the landed worth of the DAP imports contracted final from Saudi Arabia and Morocco was 642-644 {dollars} per tonne or Rs 53,930-54,100. Including import responsibility, bagging, port dealing with, curiosity, seller margins different prices will take it to about Rs 65,000 per tonne. That makes imports unviable, particularly for personal gamers.
