Chandigarh,
Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. J.P Dalal said that there is no shortage of fertilizers in the state. For the sowing of wheat and mustard, the state government has sufficient quantity of fertilizers available. Till now about 6.93 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of urea, 2.82 lakh metric tonnes of DAP, more than 1 lakh tonnes of SSP, more than 41,000 NPK is available, out of which 6.24 lakh metric tonnes of urea, 2.60 lakh metric tonnes of DAP, 79,000 metric tonnes of SSP, 38,661 metric tonnes of NPK have been provided to the farmers in the State.
The Agriculture Minister was replying to calling attention motions brought during the winter session of Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today.
The Agriculture Minister said that keeping in view the sowing of crops in every district, fertilizer has been made available. The Chief Minister also ensured the availability of fertilizers after interacting with the Central Government. The state government also initiated strict action against black marketing of fertilizers. He said that in 22 districts, 61 complaints were received, 157 show cause notices were issued, 88 licenses were suspended, and 20 FIRs were registered. Besides this, 1685 teams have conducted continuous raids to curb black marketing.
More fertilizer made available than in previous years:
The Agriculture Minister said that the consumption of DAP in the last Rabi season was 2.58 Lakh MT whereas, during the current season a quantity of 2.57 Lakh MT has been made available upto December 15, 2021 to the farmers which is at par with the last year consumption. Further, other sources of phosphatic fertilizers like SSP and NPK was also made available in much more quantity than last year (SSP more than two times and NPK around 5 times). Thus consumption of total phosphatic fertilizer was 3.73 Lakh MT upto December 15, 2021 against 3.01 Lakh MT in the last year during same period.
Similarly, the sale of Urea fertilizer was 5.88 Lakh MT during last year, whereas, it is 5.74 Lakh MT during the current Rabi Season which indicates that this year supply to farmers is almost same. It is pertinent to mention here that as on today state has Urea stock of 55828 MT and additionally about 50,000 MT Urea fertilizer is likely to arrive in the State in next 4 days and further the Government of India has announced to supply about 1,25,000 MT Urea by the end of this month. In this way the State will get enough Urea fertilizer.
He said that the major Rabi crops have been sown with sufficient fertilizer as required at the time of sowing. Phosphatic fertilizers are used/drilled at the time of sowing and Urea is generally used as a top-dressing in the crop. In this Rabi season, mustard crop has been sown in 7.6 Lakh hectare area (about 19 Lakh acres) against 6.1 Lakh hectare (about 15 Lakh acre) sown last year. Likewise, wheat has been sown in 22.9 lakh hectare area (about 57 Lakh acres) against 23.3 Lakh hectares (about 58 Lakh acres) sown last year. It clearly indicates that the sowing of Wheat and Mustard Crop have not been hampered adversely due to the shortage of any fertilizer.
Sh. J.P Dalal said that during the purchase of fertilizer at the sale point, the queues at few places were not because of shortage or non-supply of fertilizer rather it takes some time to update the data on PoS machine (Point of Sale machine). The system asks for Aadhaar Card and thumb impression etc. GoI has started IFMS (Integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System) since 2018-19 which demands sale through PoS mandatory so that real time sale and stock data can be captured at the National level.
The Agriculture Minister said that the State Government did special efforts as enumerated here for timely supply and to get more fertilizer from Government of India. The proper distribution in the State was also reviewed from time to time at the highest level. The Government of India is reviewing the situation with all State on every Tuesday through VC. The review by the State is being done almost on daily basis at the level of Minister/ACS of the Department. The DG, Agriculture is in continuous touch with on daily basis. Special Secretary, Agriculture has been appointed as a Special Officer to deal with Govt. of India. The Joint Director (Quality Control), Haryana is visiting Govt. of India on weekly basis to line up the rakes. Thus, the availability, sale and stock position of major fertilizers are being monitored regularly on day to day basis with field staff, Government of India and fertilizer suppliers companies.
Chief Minister keeps constant vigil over the supply of fertilizers:
Haryana Chief Minister requested Union Minister of Fertilizer, Government of India through a demi official letter dated July 23, 2021 followed by another DO letter dated September 07, 2021.
Vide dated October 04, 2021 Joint Secretary (INM), Government of India was requested to expedite the supply of DAP and to increase the allocation for October 2021.
Haryana Agriculture Minister has also requested through demi official letter dated October 11, 2021 to Union Minister of Fertilizer, Government of India. The status was reviewed by the Haryana Agriculture Minister on October 12, 2021.
Similarly, on October 12, 2021, the situation was reviewed by the Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Welfare Department, Haryana in a video conference meeting with all the Deputy Commissioners of the state.
On October 21, 2021, the Chief Minister visited to Union Fertilizer Ministry, by DG Agriculture with a request to expedite the supply and increase the allocation of DAP.
On October 24, 2021, Chief Minister reviewed availability of fertilizers. Vide dated November 11, 2021, ACS Agriculture requested to Secretary (Fertilizers), Government of India, for supply of DAP in Haryana-additional 10 rakes by November 25, 2021.
Similarly, Haryana Agriculture Minister met with Union Agriculture Minister, Government of India and Union Fertilizer Minister twice in the month of November, 2021 to make the fertilizer available on regular basis.
The Status was reviewed by Chief Minister with DCs on December 12, 2021. Central Government was requested for 16 rakes of Urea immediately, vide Departmental letter dated December 16, 2021.
The supply of the fertilizer throughout the state has been monitored continuously at the HQ and district level. DCs have been made Nodal Officers for the purpose and Deputy Director Agriculture along with staff of Agriculture Department have been directed to assist DCs for monitoring and control in the districts. The Deputy Commissioners (DCs) were directed that strict steps should be taken that no fertilizer should go to the neighbouring states.
DCs will get stock checked and the PoS needs to be updated in the Fertilizer Monitoring System (FMS); the display of stocks should be made mandatory on every shop. While distribution of fertilizer in the mustard growing districts, PACs should be preferred. DCs will take all possible steps to stop black marketing and pilferage of fertilizers after verifying the physical available stock in their jurisdiction. Steps should be taken to popularize the use of SSP in mustard grown area and NPK in wheat and potato area. Daily monitoring of DAP at HQ is ensured by Agriculture Department through a Special Officer.
The Agriculture Minister informed that the dealers have been persuaded to update their stock position in the PoS/IFMS and the teams have been formed to check the stock. The nakas were checked regularly by the Police so that no fertilizer goes out to the neighbouring states. Action has been taken against pilferage and black marketing.