Challenges Faced by Farmers
Farmers in the district are facing difficulties in obtaining DAP and NPK fertilizers for sowing various crops during the monsoon season. The shortage of DAP fertilizer has been ongoing for about a month now, despite farmers being willing to pay extra for it. This shortage has caused problems for farmers in starting the cultivation of crops like paddy, maize, and lentils.
Farmers Struggling with Fertilizer Shortage
After the rains, farmers have started preparing their fields for crops like paddy, mustard, maize, moong, and lentils. However, the unavailability of DAP and NPK fertilizers has led to significant distress among farmers. Many farmers have been forced to start sowing crops without these essential fertilizers due to the scarcity.
Government Policies Impacting Fertilizer Availability
Ramesh Kumar Thakur, a member of a farmers’ organization, highlighted that the reduction in the quota of DAP fertilizers by the central government has led to shortages in several states like Bihar, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The price of DAP fertilizer per bag is fixed at Rs. 1300, but traders are selling it at higher rates, further burdening the farmers.
No Shortage of Fertilizers in the District
The District Agriculture Officer, Bipin Bihari Sinha, clarified that there is no shortage of fertilizers in the district. The government is increasing the supply of mixed fertilizers instead of DAP to reduce the cost of farming for the farmers. The price of a bag of mixed fertilizer is equivalent to that of DAP, ensuring that farmers have access to all the necessary nutrients for their crops.
जिले में खरीफ मौसम के तहत विभिन्न फसलों की बुआई शुरू हो चुकी है, लेकिन किसानों को डीएपी खाद मिलने में कठिनाई हो रही है। डीएपी खाद की कमी के चलते किसानों को बिरौल प्रखंड में धान की बुआई करने में परेशानी हो रही है। डीएपी की कीमत बाजार में बढ़ रही है जबकि उपलब्धता कम है। जिले के कृषि पदाधिकारी ने बताया कि खाद की कोई कमी नहीं है, लेकिन किसानों को मिक्सचर खाद की आपूर्ति की जा रही है।
