The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : No shortage of fertilizers now, says Minister

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Thursday, Dec 06, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

No shortage of fertilizers now, says Minister

Special Correspondent

Centre allots 68,500 tonnes to State

“Urea and potash are available in plenty at all agricultural primary cooperative societies and private outlets”

CHENNAI: The Centre has allotted 68,500 tonnes of fertilizers to the State for meeting farmers’ requirements in December and January, according to Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam.

This was decided at an official meeting in New Delhi on Monday.

The move followed Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s letter to the Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers to allot 77,000 tonnes of DAP (Di Ammonium Phosphate), according to a statement issued by the Minister on Wednesday.

Of the allotted quantity, 52,000 tonnes would be distributed through Indian Potash Limited (IPL); 7,300 tonnes through Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO); 6,200 tonnes through Mangalore Chemicals Limited and 3,000 tonnes through Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation (SPIC).

DAP distribution

Between December 1 to 3, 6,800 tonnes of DAP were distributed in districts through IFFCO and IPL. On December 14, 22,000 tonnes of DAP would reach the Tuticorin harbour.

Mentioning that the State’s fertilizer requirements would be 24 to 28 lakh tonnes annually for cultivation of paddy and other crops over an extent of 55 lakh acres, the Minister said that during the Rabi season, the requirements of urea would be 5.5 lakh tonnes; DAP, 2.25 lakh tonnes and potash, 2.6 lakh tonnes.

Urea and potash were available in plenty at all agricultural primary cooperative societies and private outlets. In respect of DAP, SPIC used to fulfil 60 per cent of the State’s needs. The company stopped production in March.

TANFED roped in

To take care of farmers’ requirements, the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Marketing Federation (TANFED) was engaged in the procurement of DAP through import and was distributing the fertilizer through cooperative societies.

Though SPIC resumed its operation in August, its production was low. Besides, the price of phosphoric acid, the input needed for DAP production, went up in the open market, resulting in reduction in the quantity of import. As a result, there was shortage of DAP in all the States, the statement said.

“Now, there is no shortage of fertilizers in any corner of Tamil Nadu. We will ensure that the shortage will not arise in future,” Mr. Arumugam said.

AIADMK’s charge

In a statement, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa said the farmers were put to hardship because of “shortage” of fertilizers, including DAP. The State Government had not bothered about their problem. It was the duty of the State Government to ensure timely supply of quality fertilizers, she added.

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