Gas curtailment to fertiliser sector: urea shortage likely during current Kharif season

Pakistan during the current Kharif season would face over 0.45 million tons of urea shortage due to curtailment in gas quota to the industry and it was unable to utilise its full capacity. This was revealed by urea manufacturers during meeting with the Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Mir Israrullah Zehri here on Monday.
They informed the minister that a total of 0.45 million ton of urea shortfall is expected during current Kharif season owing to the gas suspension to the sector as they have already lost production of 0.15 million tons only in the month of December the last year.
Representatives from the fertiliser sector informed the minister that the combined urea production capacity of Pakistani fertiliser companies stands at 6.9 million tons against the domestic demand of 6.3 million tons if uninterrupted gas supply is ensured.
The delegation of fertiliser industry included Naz Khan, Chief Financial Officer Engro Fertilisers, Syed Aamir Ahsan General Manager Fauji Fertiliser, A J Bilal from Agri-Tech (Pak-America), Sajjad Laghari from Pak-Arab fertiliser and representatives from Dawood Group, National Fertiliser Company (NFC) and others.
He further said that the local production of fertilisers is comparatively cheaper and readily available to the farmers. "We are here to safeguard the interests of the farmers and would do our best to ensure the provision of all agri Inputs to them", the minister maintained.
The minister said that fertilisers' availability at reasonable price would be ensured as Pakistan's agriculture mainly depends on the availability of the fertilisers. He said that his ministry would make all possible efforts in resolving the issue of gas curtailment to fertiliser sector so that urea plants could start production, which would help bring down the commodity prices. Currently urea is being sold at Rs 1,000 to 1,100 per 50-kg bag, which was available at Rs 800 last year.
Mir Israrullah Zehri said that timely availability of urea is one of the key inputs for different crops. The minister said that to resolve the issue, he would approach the President and the Prime Minister and asked the fertiliser industry to finalise their proposals in this connection as early as possible.
"More than seventy percent of our population depends on the agriculture sector for their livelihood. Timely availability of fertilisers at affordable prices is exceedingly crucial for any crop. Our today's meeting with you is aimed at resolving your genuine problems so that there are no shortages of urea and the farming community does not have to face inconvenience", added the minister.
The delegates added that imported urea is costly and hurts the domestic industry too. They said that natural gas is used as raw material in the production of urea and the industry cannot survive without gas. They pleaded that other industries use gas for fuel and can be alternated with other sources of energy unlike the fertiliser sector "Curtailment of gas is the only reason for low production and increased prices of urea in the country", said one of the delegates. The meeting was also attended by Secretary Minfa. Junaid Iqbal, Shaista, Joint secretary M/O Industries and other senior officials from M/O Food and Agriculture and M/O Industries and Production.