Centre refutes any shortage of fertilisers in rabi season, says there is enough supply, it said

It is clarified that there is more than adequate availability of fertilizers in the country to meet the needs of the ongoing rabi (winter) season

The Centre on Friday said there is no shortage of key fertilisers, including urea and DAP, across the country for the ongoing rabi season.

Dismissing the reports of shortage in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, the fertiliser ministry said in a statement that there is more than adequate availability of fertilisers in the country to meet the needs of the ongoing rabi (winter) season.

The ministry was reacting to the news reports claiming the shortage of fertilisers in Trichy, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.

“Thus, availability of urea, DAP, MOP, NPKS and SSP fertilisers in the country is adequate to meet the needs of the rabi season,” the ministry said in a statement.

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At present, the sowing of rabi (winter) crops such as wheat, gram and mustard is underway. Total coverage under all the rabi crops remained higher at 268.80 lakh hectare as on November 18 of this rabi season, higher than 250.76 lakh hectare in the year-ago period, as per the official data.

‘As per requirement’

The government also said the Centre supplies fertilisers as per the state requirement and it is the responsibility of the respective state governments to ensure availability within the states.

Urea requirement is projected at 180.18 lakh tonne for the 2022 rabi season. The pro rata requirement up to November 16 was 57.40 lakh tonne against which the government has ensured availability of 92.54 lakh tonne, the ministry said in a statement.

In the case of Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP), the ministry said the projected requirement is 55.38 lakh tonne for the rabi season. The pro rata requirement up to November 16 was 26.98 lakh tonne against which the ministry has ensured availability of 36.90 lakh tonne.

Similarly, the projected requirement of Muriate of Potash (MoP) is 14.35 lakh tonne for the rabi season. The pro rata requirement up to November 16 was is 5.28 lakh tonne against which the ministry has ensured availability of 8.04 lakh tonne.