New Delhi/Bhopal. Farmers from Madhya Pradesh to Rajasthan, UP, Bihar and Haryana are currently facing shortage of DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate). DAP is the second most consumed fertilizer. For this, farmers have to stand in queues for two days and in some states, it is being distributed under police guard. Despite all the government claims, why is it that farmers are facing DAP crisis at the time of sowing of important crops like wheat and mustard? In many states, farmers have paid two thousand rupees each to buy a 50 kg DAP bag in black worth Rs 1350, because if they do not use it, the production of crops can be adversely affected.
The situation is such that farmers are facing shortage of DAP not only in the states ruled by BJP and Congress but also in other parties. The reason is that there is not as much availability of DAP as there is demand in the country. In such a situation, most of the states have not been able to supply as much DAP as they need. The Indian government is dependent on imports to provide DAP to its farmers and its imports have declined this year. The effect of which is clearly visible on the ground. But why did it happen? Even after 77 years of independence, we are not able to provide fertilizers to the farmers. Farmers have to face lathi charges for this.
Not even half the supply in the states
The shortage of DAP in the country can be gauged from the fact that many states have not received even half the required consignment. In BJP ruled Madhya Pradesh, 1,57,000 metric tonnes of DAP was required during September 2024, while the availability was only 69,702.9 metric tonnes. In BJP ruled UP, 1,95,000 metric tonnes of DAP was required during September 2024 and only 1,35,474 tonnes was available here. In Maharashtra, ruled by BJP and its allies, 65,000 metric tonnes of DAP was required, while the availability was only 15,671.7 metric tonnes. In BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh, 10,000 metric tonnes of DAP was required during September 2024, while the availability was only 6,840.1 metric tonnes. In Congress-ruled Karnataka, the requirement of 41.630 metric tonnes of DAP during September 2024 was only 23,367.96 metric tonnes. In Congress-ruled Telangana, the availability during September was only 12,139.7 metric tonnes against the requirement of 20,000 metric tonnes. Only 27,830.61 metric tonnes of DAP reached TMC-ruled West Bengal during September 2024 against the requirement of 32,680 metric tonnes.
DAP’s political bet
Farmers’ issues are very sensitive politically. At present sowing of wheat and mustard is going on. In such a situation, farmers are troubled by the shortage of such an important fertilizer. When there was a shortage of DAP, the opposition did not waste any time in cornering the government. The Congress 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.
Dependence on imports for DAP
In India, DAP is consumed the most after urea. There is a demand of about 100 lakh tonnes of DAP every year. Most of which is met through imports. Therefore, the possibility of the crisis increasing as imports are affected increases. India’s dependence on imports for DAP is increasing year by year. According to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, we imported 48.70 lakh metric tons of DAP in the year 2019-2020, which increased to 55.67 lakh metric tons 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 the DAP crisis this year. The government said DAP imports were affected due to the ongoing Red Sea crisis since January, which forced fertilizer ships to travel a distance of more than 6,500 kilometers via the Cape of Good Hope. Attention may be paid to the fact that the availability of DAP has been affected to some extent by several geopolitical factors. Of which this is also one. Efforts have been made by the Department of Fertilizers to increase the availability of DAP during September-November, 2024. On the other hand, according to the Department of Fertilizers, the price of DAP had increased by about 7.30 percent from US $ 589 per metric ton in September, 2023 to US $ 632 per metric ton in September, 2024. However, if the procurement price of P&K fertilizer including DAP increases in the global market, the purchasing capacity of the companies is not affected. Instead of increasing the price, the MRP of DAP has been maintained at Rs 1350 per 50 kg bag since the Covid period.
Gap of 2.34 lakh metric tons in demand and supply
In fact, the DAP crisis which is currently visible in many parts of the country had started in September itself. Statistics show that there was a huge shortfall of 2.34 lakh metric tonnes in the requirement and availability of DAP at that time. Its effect was seen in October also. The pictures of DAP distribution under police surveillance are being verified by the figures of demand and supply. In September 2024, the requirement was 9.35 lakh metric tonnes while the availability was only 7.01 lakh metric tonnes.