Farmers from Haryana to Rajasthan, UP, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh are currently facing a shortage of DAP (diammonium phosphate). DAP is the second most consumed fertilizer. For this, farmers have to queue for two days and, in some states, their distribution is carried out under police surveillance.
Despite all the government’s claims, why are farmers facing DAP crisis while sowing important crops like wheat and mustard? In many states, farmers have paid two thousand rupees each to buy a 50 kg bag of black DAP worth Rs 1,350, because if they do not use it, crop production may be adversely affected.
The situation is such that farmers are facing shortage of DAP not only in BJP and Congress ruled states but also in other parties. The reason is that there is not as much availability of DAP in the country as there is demand. In such a situation, most states have not been able to supply as much DAP as they need.
The Indian government relies on imports to provide DAP to its farmers and its imports have declined this year. whose effect is clearly visible on the ground. But why did it happen? Even after 77 years of independence, we cannot provide fertilizers to farmers. The farmers have to face lathi charges for this.
In which states there is less supply
-In BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, 1,57,000 metric tonnes of DAP were needed during September 2024, while availability was only 69,702.9 metric tonnes.
-In BJP-ruled UP, 1,95,000 metric tonnes of DAP were required during September 2024 and only 1,35,474 tonnes were available here.
-In Maharashtra, ruled by the BJP and its allies, 65,000 metric tonnes of DAP were needed, while the availability was only 15,671.7 metric tonnes.
-BJP ruled that Chhattisgarh required 10,000 metric tonnes of DAP during September 2024, while the availability was only 6,840.1 metric tonnes.
-In Congress-ruled Karnataka, 41,630 metric tonnes of DAP were required during September 2024, while availability was only 23,367.96 metric tonnes.
-In the Congress ruling Telangana during September, the availability was only 12,139.7 metric tonnes against the requirement of 20,000 metric tonnes.
-In TMC-ruled West Bengal, only 27,830.61 metric tonnes of DAP arrived during September 2024 against the requirement of 32,680 metric tonnes.
Why did the crisis increase in Haryana?
Elections were held in Haryana in September 2024 and DAP sales were higher than required that month. In September, 60,000 tons of DAP were needed, while sales were 64,345 tons. Despite this, farmers face a crisis in October.
The Haryana government spokesperson said that as on October 27, 2024, there were 27,357 metric tonnes of DAP, including old stocks, available in the state. The Government of India has allocated 1,15,150 metric tonnes of DAP during the month of October, of which 68,929 metric tonnes have been received till October 27.
The political bet of the DAP
Farmers’ problems are politically very sensitive. Currently, wheat and mustard are still being planted. In such a situation, farmers are worried about the shortage of such an important fertilizer. When there was a shortage of DAP, the opposition wasted no time in cornering the government. Congress leader and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupendra Singh Hooda said, ‘Due to lack of fertilizer supply, farmers have to wait in long queues for many days. Still, they cannot get fertilizers and have to buy them on the black market.
On the other hand, Congress leader Kumari Shailaja alleged that lack of DAP required for cultivation of mustard, wheat and some other crops has forced farmers to stand in long queues. The situation has become serious in many places and farmers are forced to protest.
Import dependence for DAP
In India, DAP is the most consumed after urea. There is a demand for around 100 lakh tonnes of DAP every year. Most of which is covered by imports. Therefore, the possibility of the crisis escalating as imports are affected increases. India’s dependence on DAP imports is increasing year by year.
According to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, we imported 48.70 lakh metric tonnes of DAP in the year 2019-2020, which increased to 55.67 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24. In the year 2023-24, the domestic production of DAP was only 42.93 lakh metric tonnes.
Why did the crisis arise?
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in its statement has given the reason for this year’s DAP crisis. DAP imports have been affected since January by the Red Sea crisis, which caused fertilizer ships to travel a distance of more than 6,500 kilometers through the Cape of Good Hope. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the availability of DAP has been affected to some extent by various geopolitical factors. Of which this is also one. The Department of Fertilizers has made efforts to increase the availability of DAP during September-November 2024.
Did the price increase have any impact?
On the other hand, according to the Department of Fertilizers, the price of DAP had increased by approximately 7.30 percent from $589 per metric ton in September 2023 to $632 per metric ton in September 2024. However, if the price purchase of P&K fertilizers, including DAP, increases in the global market, the purchasing capacity of companies is not affected. Instead of increasing the price, the MRP of DAP has remained at Rs 1,350 per 50 kg bag since the Covid period.
What is the gap between demand and supply?
In fact, the DAP crisis that is currently visible in many parts of the country began in September. Statistics show that there was a huge shortfall of 2.34 lakh metric tonnes in DAP requirement and availability at that time. Its effect was also observed in October. The images of DAP distribution under police surveillance are confirmed by supply and demand figures. As of September 2024, 9.35 lakh metric tonnes were needed, while availability was only 7.01 lakh metric tonnes.
Before there was also a crisis
Even in the month of October 2021, farmers had witnessed a major DAP crisis. Fertilizer was then distributed at the Mewat police station, Haryana, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Not only this, also in many places in Madhya Pradesh farmers had to stand in long queues to receive fertilizer. Then in September 2021, there was a record gap of 3.44 lakh metric tonnes in DAP demand and supply in the country. As of September 2021, the requirement was 10.39 metric tonnes and the availability was only 6.95 lakh metric tonnes. Therefore, even in 2021, farmers had to face the DAP crisis.
When was there more supply?
On the other hand, in the years when supply exceeded demand, there was no such problem. As of September 2023, the requirement was 7.18 lakh metric tonnes and the availability was 12.08 lakh metric tonnes. In September 2022, there was a need of 8.26 lakh tonnes and we had 12.23 lakh tonnes of DAP. While in September 2020, 18.01 lakh tonnes of DAP were available against the requirement of 8.09 lakh tonnes. Therefore, farmers did not have to face the DAP crisis in these years.
Read this also from the farmer.,
Even if DAP is not available, there is no tension, farmers can apply these 3 fertilizers on wheat and potatoes.
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