Government Denies Any Shortage of Fertiliser During the Rabi Season

According to the Centre, there is no scarcity of key fertilizers, such as urea and DAP, across the nation for the present rabi season.

As per the ministry, there is more than enough fertilizer available in the country to satisfy the demands of the ongoing rabi (winter) season. The government was responding to concerns about fertilizer scarcity in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan.

According to the government, the urea needs for the 2022 rabi season are expected to be 180.18 lakh tonnes. The proportion requirement up to November 16 was 57.40 lakh tonnes, against which the government has guaranteed 92.54 lakh tonnes of availability.

During this time, urea sales totaled 38.43 lah tonnes. Furthermore, the states had a closing stock of 54.11 lakh tonnes. Furthermore, there is a supply of 1.05 lakh tonne at Urea factories and 5.03 lakh tonne at ports to satisfy demand, it adds.

The ministry stated that the expected need for Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) for the rabi season is 55.38 lakh tonnes.

The proportion needed till November 16 was 26.98 lakh tonne, for which the government has guaranteed 36.90 lakh tonne availability. During this time, DAP sales totaled 24.57 lakh tonnes. Furthermore, the states have a closing stock of 12.33 LMT. Also, there is a stock of 0.51 lakh tonnes in DAP factories and 4.51 lakh tonnes at ports to satisfy demand.

Similarly, the predicted need for Muriate of Potash (MoP) for the rabi season is 14.35 lakh tonnes. The government has guaranteed availability of 8.04 lakh tonne against in proportion need of 5.28 lakh tonne till November 16.

During this period, MOP sales reached 3.01 lakh tonne, with a closing stock of 5.03 lakh tonne in the states. Furthermore, there was a supply of 1.17 lakh tonnes at ports to fulfill the demand for MOP.

The expected need for NPK’s fertilizers for the rabi season is 56.97 lakh tonnes. The proportion needed till November 16 was 20.12 lakh tonne, for which the government has guaranteed a 40.76 lakh tonne supply.

NPK’s sales totaled 15.99 lakh tonnes throughout this time period. Furthermore, there was a closing stock of 24.77 lakh tonne in the states, 1.24 lakh tonne at plants, and 2.93 lakh tonne at ports to satisfy demand.

For the rabi season, the expected demand for Single Super Phosphate (SSP) is 33.64 lakh tonnes. The proportional need for November 16 was 14.05 lakh tonne, against which the government has guaranteed a 24.79 lakh tonne supply.

During this time, SSP sales totaled 9.25 lakh tonnes. Furthermore, the states have a closing stock of 15.54 lakh tonnes. There is also a stockpile of 1.65 lakh tonnes at factories to satisfy demand.

"As a result, the supply of urea, DAP MOP, NPKS, and SSP fertilizers in the nation is enough to satisfy rabi season demands," the ministry stated.

Rabi (winter) crops like wheat, gram, and mustard are now being sown. According to government data, total coverage for all rabi crops was 268.80 lakh hectares on November 18 of the current rabi season, from 250.76 lakh hectares as compared to the previous year.