Sowing of Wheat Becoming Difficult for Farmers

Villages in Rohtak district of Haryana are facing wheat sowing troubles due to waterlogged fields and shortage of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP). Wheat is a staple food grain of the Indian household. It is consumed in one or the other form on a daily basis.

Speculatively, the coming season is going to fall short of it as presently the sowing of wheat is in question. October 15 – November 15 is the usual sowing period of the wheat crop. Recent unseasonal rainfall has caused water logging in hundreds of acres of fields in the of the Rohtak belt, because of which wheat sowing is getting delayed.

But on the other hand, DAP shortage is proving to be more painful than the above situation as it is the basic nutrient for Rabi crops. The yield of wheat crops is reduced if DAP is not used at the time of sowing.  

The farmers have been advised by the government officials and agricultural scientists to use organic fertilizers but alternative fertilizers/ manures are not that effective in ensuring good yield and hence doesn’t solve the purpose.

The government has assured the farmers that soon DAP will be supplied in adequate quantities. 

Agricultural Minister JP Dalal said, “In October’ 2020, there was a consumption of nearly one lakh tone (20 lakh bags) of DAP IN Haryana. This year, we had a stock of 53,000 tons at the initial stage of October. Till now, 1.2 lakh tons of fertilizer have arrived in the state. By the end of the month, we expect 1.35 lakh tons of the fertilizer". 

He added that for the entire Rabi season, there was a consumption of 3 lakh tons in 2020. But this time we will ask for 50,000 additional tons of DAP so that the farmers don’t face problems during the sowing of wheat.