Farmers Movement Archive

At season’s fag end, Malwa wheat growers grapple with DAP crisis

Tribune News ServiceBathinda, November 11Even at the fag end of the wheat cultivation season, farmers in the Malwa region are still grappling with the shortage of DAP (diammonium phosphate) fertiliser.With a majority of the cooperative societies running dry, it’s the farmers who have been running from pillar to post to get the fertiliser so that they can start wheat sowing. On the other hand, officials of the cooperative societies claimed there was adequate supply of DAP and that they were distributing it in a phased manner.A representative of the Punjab State Cooperative Societies Employees’ Union said, “More than 100 cooperative societies of total 193 are running dry in Bathinda district while the rest of them are left with a small quantity of the fertiliser… Apart from the short supply in cooperative societies, unlike during previous seasons, farmers are not getting the fertiliser from private sellers as well.”Protest outside Lehra SDM office todaySangrur: Farmers have decided to protest in front of Lehra SDM office on Friday to press for the supply of DAP, crop loss relief to growers and against the closure of paddy purchase centres. “In coming days, we will intensify the stir if the government fails to take a quick action to fulfil our demands,” said Ram Singh Dhindsa, BKU Ugrahan, Lehra block president.EFFORTS ON TO END fertiliser shortageThe crunch will end in coming days, especially after the government announcement on 70% of DAP being provided by cooperatives and 30% by private sellers. Also, there are alternatives to DAP that can be used by the farmers. —Manjit Singh, Chief agriculture officer, BathindaAlso, as per the Agriculture Department, wheat can be sown in approximately 30 to 35% area till now whereas a large section of farmers are still awaiting DAP so that they can begin the process. Cooperative Department officials, however, claimed that 70% of DAP (14,500 MT stated requirement) had already been supplied and that hoarding by private players and a significant rise in the number of non-members seeking the fertiliser had led to the gap between demand and supply.Gurbir Dhillon, Deputy Registrar, cooperative societies, Bathinda, said, "Of the total stated requirement of DAP for the district, we have provided 10,000 MT to farmers and efforts are on to give the rest of it soon."Meanwhile, BKU Ekta Ugrahan chief Shingara Singh Mann said, “If the government is genuinely concerned then it must get the matter probed thoroughly and launch a crackdown on black marketing so that hoarding can be stopped and farmers don’t faceany harassment. If it fails to find a solution, we will initiate an action soon.”Protest outside Lehra SDM office todaySangrur: Farmers have decided to protest in front of Lehra SDM office on Friday to press for the supply of DAP, crop loss relief to growers and against the closure of paddy purchase centres. “In coming days, we will intensify the stir if the government fails to take a quick action to fulfil our demands,” said Ram Singh Dhindsa, BKU Ugrahan, Lehra block president.

The Tribune

2021-11-12