Fear of fertiliser shortage looms over kharif season

The West Asia conflict continues to ripple through India’s agricultural supply chain, raising fears of fertiliser shortages and price hikes just as sowing is set to begin.

With the paddy season beginning June 1, agricultural experts warn that disruptions in the import of raw materials, particularly natural gas, could strain domestic production of urea. Factories have already reported a 30 per cent cut in gas supply. “We are struggling with profits as is,” said farmer Amarjeet Singh, adding, “If we don’t get fertilisers, the yield will be even lower. That will affect my entire family because we are completely dependent on agriculture.”

“Farmers are already facing severe diesel shortages, driven by supply disruptions and panic buying. This is impacting agricultural operations, making it difficult to run tractors, combine harvesters and diesel-powered tubewells during critical farming periods. Now, the shortage of fertilisers for the upcoming paddy season looms large over them,” said HS Lakhowal, president of BKU (Lakhowal).

“We are praying for the war to end. The immediate impact is not yet visible, but procurement for the kharif season begins in May-end leaving only a narrow window before the impact of the shortages is felt,” he added.

According to agriculture experts, paddy cultivation in Punjab alone spans over 31 lakh hectares, requiring more than 7 lakh tonne urea.

Harbir Singh, a farmer from Bija village, said, “Because of the panic, farmers around me have started hoarding fertilisers, despite their limited shelf life. Any shortage will affect our productivity.”

Experts caution that overuse of fertilisers, already common in paddy fields, could worsen the crisis. “Indian agriculture remains heavily dependent on chemical fertilisers. Any disruption quickly creates anxiety,” said a scientist from the Punjab Agricultural University.