MP to import fertiliser for Rabi crop

Bhopal, July 6: Fertilisers worth Rs 100 crore will be imported by Madhya Pradesh from other countries to ensure its availability for the Rabi crop this year.

This is in addition to 70,000 tonnes of DAP fertiliser being imported for the kharif season, official sources said.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while reviewing the availability of fertiliser and seeds at a high-level meeting here yesterday, directed that fertiliser for Rabi season should be made available before the start of sowing operations in October.

Of the 70,000 tonnes of DAP being imported for kharif, the first consignment of 35,000 tonnes was expected to reach Gujarat's Kandla port today and it would become available in the state by July 10, while the second consignment was also expected soon.

The state government has provided Rs 65 crore to Markfed for importing DAP fertiliser, official sources said, adding a target has been fixed to make available 13.52 lakh tonnes of fertiliser for kharif season.

A target of kharif sowing in 107 lakh hectare has been set for this year, while sowing has already been completed in 37 lakh hectare. The demand of 7 lakh quintals of seeds for kharif has been met by government institutions and private agencies, the sources said.

UNI