Gujarat prepares for urea shortages

Once bitten, twice shy, that is what is happening with the agriculture department of the Gujarat government. The department is taking utmost care that the state gets its due share of urea and fertiliser on time so that the state's farmers do not have to face the shortage of urea like last year.

The state agriculture department's estimate of the requirement of urea during kharif 2007 is 6.46 metric tonne. However, the state government has asked the Centre to provide 7.30 lakh MT urea.

Last year due to the late release of urea, the farmers in the state had to face difficulties and the state had to ask for immediate release of the urea from the Centre in November-December 2006.

Talking to Business Standard on the condition of anonymity, an official of the agriculture department said, "The state is not taking any chances this time. We have estimated that the state will require 6.46 MT of urea during kharif 2007. However, we have given an estimate of 7.30 lakh MT to the Centre so that the state does not have to undergo a situation like last year. We give our supply plan for kharif in February and we have asked the Centre to release 7.30 lakh MT of urea for kharif."

"Last year we had to ask the Centre to release one lakh MT of extra urea as the state had received a good rainfall and saw an increase in the area under cultivation. The situation worsened during November-December last year. There was a delay in releasing fertiliser from the Centre. However, this year we hope that such a situation does not arise as we expect a normal kharif crop this year. Moreover, the Centre has promised us that the state will get its share of fertiliser on time and if need arises then fertiliser may be imported," he said.

On the present situation in releasing the monthly installment of urea by the Centre, he said, "At present the situation is normal and there is a sufficient stock of fertiliser in the market. However, even if the demand arises we will be prepared to tackle it."

As per the action plan for rabi, kharif 2006-07 the state will require 2.75 lakh MT of DAP, 95,000 MT of MOP, 95,000 MT of AS, 30,000 MT of CAN and 60,000 of SSP. Plan for the fertiliser consumption for 2006-07 the state will require 8.45 lakh MT nitrogen, 2.98 lakh MT of phosphorous and 94,000 MT of potash.