Chouhan seeks PM's intervention for supply of fertilisers

Bhopal, Aug 9 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking his intervention in supply of DAP and other chemical fertilisers to the state as per its requirement.

Mr Chouhan has pointed out to the Prime Minister that despite close liaison maintained by the state with the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers and various manufacturers, supply of DAP fertiliser has not been made to Madhya Pradesh as per its requirement for the ongoing Kharif season, an official release said here today.

Mr Chouhan said the state was still short of 1.25 lakh metric tonnes of DAP. He also foresaw impending shortage of chemical fertilisers during the forthcoming Rabi season.

The state has already communicated its demand for various fertilisers to the Ministries of Agriculture and Chemicals and Fertilisers.

He has informed the Prime Minister that as per the standard practice, state marketing agencies have twice invited bids in July and August from suppliers and manufacturers for supply of various fertilisers during the Rabi season.

However, no response had been received on both the occasions. A meeting of state-level representatives of DAP and MPK manufacturers convened at Bhopal on August 7 failed to elicit a firm commitment from any company regarding Rabi supplies.

The lack of clarity on subsidy, payments and import procedures are cited as reasons by the companies for their inabilities to commit supplies.

The Chief Minister said farmers in Madhya Pradesh will start preparing for Rabi sowing within the next four weeks and the demand for DAP and MPK fertilizers will be at peak from mid September to mid October.

The letter stated that failure to place supplies of these two critical inputs at the storage points will result in widespread discontent among farming community and it may lead to serious law and order situation.

Mr Chouhan has expressed his apprehension in the letter that the state may also suffer a setback in its efforts to increase acreage and productivity, especially of foodgrains.

The goal of timely availability of fertilisers to farmers can only be achieved if the various manufacturers give immediate and clear commitments to the state agencies and begin supplies at the earliest.

The Chief Minister has requested the Prime Minister to direct the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers to convene a meeting of all fertiliser companies at national level, together with representatives of states and ensure that firm commitments are made to supply the demand of various fertilisers already communicated.

Mr Chouhan also requested the Prime Minister to convene a meeting of all the chief ministers on the subject of fertiliser supplies.

Meanwhile, Mr Chouhan has written a letter to Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri in this connection informing the latter about the efforts being made by Madhya Pradesh for obtaining the requisite quota of fertilisers.

Mr Chouhan has also sought cooperation of Mr Khanduri to build up a pressure on the Prime Minister and the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers to release sufficient quota of fertilisers to the states as per their requirements, the release added.

UNI