Agri official rubbishes urea shortage reports

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 13

The Agriculture Department has asked farmers not to believe in the reports of urea shortage in the market as a special train carrying the fertiliser is expected to reach the city by Tuesday.

“We had talks with the higher-ups and asked for two trains of urea. We have assured the farmers that everyone would get the fertiliser in time,” said Chief Agricultural Officer Dr Dalbir Singh Chinna.

The department has identified four blocks — Ajnala, Chogawan, Harsha Chinna and Attari — from where reports of shortage were received.

Earlier, due to reports of shortage of urea bags at shops, panicked farmers started buying and hoarding urea for future use. The department has also asked the farmers to buy the quantity of fertiliser which is immediately required.

“Another train full of urea will reach the city this week. So there will be enough of it available for every farmer,” said Dr Chinna, adding that increase in area under paddy has resulted in temporary shortage.

Agriculture experts said only 36 kg of urea is required for basmati and around 110 kg for paddy varieties. They said early announcement of hike in MSP for paddy had resulted in increase in area under cultivation for paddy varieties and decrease in area under basmati. Though a survey regarding the exact area under paddy and basmati is still under way, officials revealed area under basmati this season has gone down by around 10-12 thousand hectares.

Around 1.80 lakh hectares is under paddy and basmati varieties in the district. Last year, the basmati was grown on a total of 80,000 hectares. Officials said vigil was also being kept on shopkeepers who might force farmers to buy unnecessary chemicals while selling urea. “Field officials are also watching that farmers get urea at MRP and further they are not forced to buy chemicals which are not required,” said Dr Chinna.