New Delhi: Amid shortage of urea, black marketing, district officials distributing the fertiliser through police stations, the current rabi crop season has turned out to be a nightmare for farmers.
As per reports accessed by The Indian Express, the centre too is responsible for this shortage. The lack of planning in import of urea has made the situation worse.
During April-January of 2014-15, India's urea imports totaled 73.02 lakh tonnes (lt), which was more than the 67.98 lt for the corresponding 10 months of 2013-14. But the real story lies in the data on month-wise imports. The five months from June to October in 2014-15 saw only 17.37 lt being imported, as against 43.82 lt during the same period of the previous year. In other words, imports did not happen in time for planting for the rabi season, from November.
There was a flood of imports after November. But by then, farmers had already planted their wheat, mustard or chana.
"The Centre is to blame here because how much and when to import is solely its decision. Further, only its three designated agencies are permitted to import, Disappointed on condition of farmers, a source was quoted by Indian Express saying, " The Indian Express quoted an industry source.
India consumes over 300 lt of urea annually, of which 220-225 lt is produced domestically and the rest imported. And, timing really matters because urea is largely applied within 50 days of sowing.
Anantha Kumar, Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister blamed the UPA government for the shortfall in the import of urea. Kumar attributed the shortage to the UPA government's decision to stop extending subsidies to naphtha-based urea plants, after June 30, if they did not switch over to natural gas.
Either way, farmers are the ultimate sufferers. Cumulative urea sales during April-December 2014 at 225.85 lt were below the 233.79 lt for April-December 2013. In contrast, during the same period of comparison, sales were higher for di-ammonium phosphate (61.04 lt and 55.33 lt) and complex fertilisers (59.64 lt and 52.72 lt), implying no shortage in their supply.
There have also been allegations of private dealers forcing “useless” pesticides or chemicals on farmers as a pre-condition for supplying urea.
