Fertilizer frenzy in Punjab and Haryana

Punjab and Haryana, often called India's agricultural heartland, are facing a dilemma as farmers of both the states increasingly rely on the use of chemical fertilizers to increase production - posing a threat to the soil health, environment and draining hefty subsidies.

- NEERAJ MOHAN

Following a surge in the demand for highly subsidized fertilizers like urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), both the states have topped national consumption as experts warn of worsening soil degradation, groundwater depletion, and fiscal inefficiencies.

The latest figures from the Union Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers revealed that Punjab is at the top with an annual average usage of 375.63 kg of urea and 91.49 kg of DAP per hectare, more than double the national averages of 151.98 kg and 44.80 kg, respectively. On the other hand, Haryana closely followed with 323.96 kg of urea and 88.55 kg of DAP per hectare.

The figures revealed that the use of fertilizers continues to rise with the farmers and agriculture experts attributed the rising consumption of the fertilizers by the farmers to increase their productivity as both the states have the highest per acre yield of rice and wheat in the country.

The surge in demand has led to shortage of the key fertilizers like Urea and DAP during both the Rabi and Kharif seasons as the both the fertilizers are imported.