Foodgrain state Punjab faces fertiliser shortage

Chandigarh, March 12 : Punjab, which contributes over 50 percent of the country's total foodgrain production, is facing a shortage of fertilisers.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Friday shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the non-availability of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser in the state.

Expressing grave concern, Badal said only 6,000 tonnes of DAP was available in the state, while last year a stock of 98,000 was available. He said there would be a large requirement in two-three months.

Punjab officials said the situation had arisen due to the non-fixation of subsidy on different nutrients by the government, leading to uncertainty among fertiliser companies.

Because of this, they had not finalized their import contracts.

Badal urged the prime minister to direct the authorities to make adequate arrangements for import of phosphate fertilisers without delay.