The fertilizer crisis is looming large in the country as only 3,00,000 metric ton urea fertilizer is left with the stockists to start sowing of the Rabi crops including wheat, grams, lentils, canola, sunflower, vegetables, fodder etc from October 01 against the crops six month requirement of 3.35 millions tons, official and non-official agriculture experts told Business Recorder, here on Tuesday.
A senior government agriculture expert said that about 2.1 million to 2.6 million metric tons urea is produced locally for the winter crops, leaving a shortfall of 1.2 million tons to 0.7 million tons. The farmers of Punjab use about 2.5 million tons of urea for sowing and maturing of Rabi crops. The average usage of urea in the province in the months of December - January is more than 0.85 million tons whereas around 0.65 million tons of expensive DAP is used for sowing the Rabi crops.
The Federal Ministry of Industries has also assessed that there would be urea shortage of 1.2 million tons for the upcoming Rabi season, therefore it was approaching Economic Co-ordination Committee to allow import of this vital agri input. Meanwhile various associations of farmers have called upon the Punjab government to ensure timely availability of fertilisers and other agri inputs like certified good quality seeds of winter crops. Punjab farmers would be needing at least 0.85 million metric tons of wheat seed for sowing the crop in the province, out of which the Punjab Seed Corporation is expected to provide 0.3 million tons of certified seed. Punjab contributes more than 80 percent of the agri produce.
Talking to Business Recorder Chairman Pakistan Agri-forum Ibrahim Moghal said that winter crops are sown over 32.5 million acres of land across the country. Even if two 50kg urea bags per acre are used, then the country needs at least 65 million bags of urea. He said Agri-forum has written a letter to Chief Secretary Punjab Nasir Khosa that the concerned departments should physically verify availability of fertiliser, certified seeds and other inputs to discourage traders from hoarding and black-marketing.