Fertiliser shortage hits Gujarat, southern states

Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and some parts of Kerala are facing a severe shortage of fertilisers following an increase in sowing after the first spell of good rains. The new fertiliser distribution system, introduced by the Union ministry of chemicals and fertilisers, has hit these states, especially Gujarat.

The new system, implemented across the country, seeks to bring fertiliser distribution under complete government control.

Gujarat is facing a shortage of 2.46 lakh tonnes of urea as the ministry has only approved 6.8 lakh tonnes against the state's requirement of 8.50 lakh tonnes for the 2007 kharif crop. Though many representations have been sent to the central government, the state is likely to witness the situation last year, when the state had to make an urgent request for one lakh tonne of urea.

Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, state minister for agriculture and cooperation, Gujarat, said, "We are short of 2.46 lakh tonnes of urea this year. Against a request for 8.50 lakh tonnes submitted to the Union ministry in February this year for the 2007 kharif, we have only received approval for buying 6.8 lakh tonnes from the companies. This year the state has received a very good first spell of rains, which could increase the acreage under cultivation."

"Earlier, we used to have more than 10,000 distribution centres in the state. Following the new rule, the state will be left with less than 550 warehouses," he added.

The new rule would increase the costs of transportation and logistics of the farming sector. "We have written to the ministry to let us continue with the old system," he said.

Chudasama also said the untimely release of urea installments by the central government had taken its toll on the agricultural output last year and the shortage of urea may affect output this year also.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu is also facing a shortage of diammonium phosphate (DAP). The state will import 33,000 tonnes of DAP from Russia.

S Kosalaraman, director, Agriculture Department, Tamil Nadu, said, "There were complaints of DAP shortage in the state and we have taken necessary steps. Imports of DAP is being handled by the Tamil Nadu Cooperation Federation. Our monthly requirement is 35,000 tonnes to 40,000 tonnes."

Kerala is also facing a shortage of fertilisers in many districts, including Thiruvananthapuram and Pathanamthitta. A government official on condition of anonymity said, "The shortage is because of the lack of transportation facilities. Fertilisers have to be transported through railways, and the wagons allotted are not sufficient."

Meanwhile, many fertiliser companies have decided to increase production. A K Sinha, senior general manager, IFFCO, Gujarat, said, "We have decided to increase the production of fertiliser this year to 5.65 lakh tonnes from the last year's 5.60 lakh tonnes, though our manufacturing capacity is only 5.40 lakh tonnes."

He said the fertiliser industry as a whole had not expanded their manufacturing facilities for more than a decade. "The fertiliser manufacturing units across the country have not expanded their manufacturing capacities for more than a decade. They are concentrating on enhancing capacity through debottlenecking."