Centre assures uninterrupted supply of DAP for Punjab farmers

Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, JP Nadda, on Saturday assured the Punjab CM of the centre's commitment and ensuring sufficient supplies of DAP for Punjab. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann impressed upon Chemical and Fertiliser Minister JP Nadda to ensure complete supply of DAP fertiliser allotted to the state by November 15. The Chief Minister, who called on Nadda at his residence in New Delhi, said that the state contributes around 50 per cent of supply of wheat in the national food pool. He said that DAP is the basic ingredient required for the cultivation of wheat and this year 4.80 lakh tonnes of DAP is required in state for sowing of wheat. So far, the state has received 3.30 lakh metric tonne of DAP fertiliser which is inadequate, Mann said.
The Punjab CM emphasized that this will help in the smooth sowing season of wheat in the state and will be in the larger interest of national food security too. Mann said that it is understandable that as 70 per cent of DAP is imported from other countries so due to the Ukraine conflict and other international reasons there is a shortage of DAP. He, however, also added that the need for DAP in the state is mainly till November 15, so the central government should accord priority to allot DAP to the state in comparison to other states that need it later.
"Ensuring farmers' satisfaction is a top priority, and all efforts are focused on delivering timely fertilizer supplies. The Department of Fertilizers is actively coordinating with fertilizer companies to fulfil the requirements of Punjab as specified by the state government," Nadda said.
It was informed that against the requirement of 2.50 LMT of DAP of Punjab in the month of October 2024, approximately 1 LMT of Stock was already available with the State as of October 1.Further, 0.71 LMT was already supplied to Punjab. Moreover, a total of 0.75 LMT is planned to be supplied to Punjab upto November 10, 2024, so as to meet its peak demand.