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Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Decode Politics: Why Haryana fertiliser crisis has landed Saini govt in a spot
Farmers across Haryana have been struggling to obtain urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilisers in recent days, even as the BJP-led state government has continued to claim that there was no shortage of fertilisers. However, many farmers seem to have joined long queues, braving heavy rains in their bid to secure fertilisers. In Charkhi Dadri district, for instance, police were deployed to ensure orderly distribution amid growing tensions on Monday. Protests have already erupted at several locations across the state. With over two-thirds of Haryana's population directly or indirectly reliant on agriculture, the issue has taken centre stage in state politics. The Opposition has seized on the crisis, attacking the government for what it calls a failure to ensure uninterrupted fertiliser supply. As the second-largest contributor to India's Central foodgrain pool, Haryana — often referred to as the 'bread basket of India' along with Punjab — finds itself in the middle of a agricultural row and a political showdown. Haryana officials cite two main reasons behind the current panic over a shortage of fertilisers. The first is the advance sowing of paddy prompted by early monsoon rains in the region. The second is the announcement by the state government that the fertiliser distribution would soon be restricted to farmers registered on the government's 'Meri Fasal-Mera Byora' portal, detailing crops sown on their land. Officials believe this shift has triggered anxiety among farmers, many of whom fear they might be left out of the fertiliser supply system. As one official noted, 'Even those farmers who don't need urea and DAP immediately have rushed to procure them, creating panic across farming communities.' In part, the panic has also been rooted in previous years' fertiliser shortfalls. Government figures show that of the 10.07 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of urea allocated for this season, 5.8 lakh MT has already arrived in the state. Combined with the earlier stock of 2.7 lakh MT, total availability is 8.5 lakh MT, with 7.5 lakh MT already sold. 'Farmers only need 5.91 lakh MT of urea from April 1 to July 19,' an official claimed. Regarding DAP fertilisers, officials said that 1.46 lakh MT had landed in Haryana against an allocation of 2.83 lakh MT, with 1.1 lakh MT sold and 36,000 MT currently in stock. An additional 5,467 MT is in transit. Farmers needed 1.37 lakh MT for the April-July period, according to the officials. Farmer leaders, however, argue this crisis is 'real and urgent'. Rakesh Bains, a Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader from Kurukshetra, said, 'The farmers immediately need urea for their crop of paddy but they want to take DAP too to meet their future needs.' Tejveer Singh of the BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) said, 'Farmers in rural areas are struggling more to obtain fertilisers than those living near towns.' On July 17, angry protesters allegedly held an agriculture department official hostage in Pehowa and blocked the Hisar-Chandigarh highway. Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and INLD chief Abhay Singh Chautala accused the Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government of 'failing' to maintain uninterrupted fertiliser supply. Deepender Singh Hooda, the Congress's Rohtak MP, said, 'With the kharif season's planting in full swing, farmers are deeply worried about saving their crops due to the unavailability of fertilisers. Even women and children from farmers' families are forced to wait in long queues through the night for several days — yet they still don't receive sufficient quantities of DAP and urea.' State Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana held a video-conference meeting with senior officials Tuesday to assess the fertiliser situation in Haryana. Rana reiterated that there was no shortage of fertilisers in any district and assured that the supply was being managed according to the demand. Rana said the government has intensified its vigilance and enforcement efforts to curb black marketing, hoarding, adulteration, and illegal tagging (a practice that often forces farmers to buy substandard products) of fertilisers. As part of these measures, 1,974 inspections have recently been conducted across Haryana. The crackdown has resulted in the registration of eight FIRs, suspension of 26 dealer licences, revocation of one licence, and issuance of 96 show-cause notices. The minister also appealed to farmers to purchase fertilisers based strictly on the immediate requirements of the kharif season. He urged them to refrain from stockpiling fertilisers for the Rabi season in advance, cautioning that such practices could lead to unnecessary shortages and disrupt equitable distribution. Amid a DAP fertiliser crisis last year, the Centre in November 2024 allocated 1.1 lakh MT of DAP to farmers in Haryana. At the time, the Saini government said it had been in touch with Union Chemical and Fertilisers Minister J P Nadda to ensure timely supply of the allocated fertiliser. Then too, the state government had said there was no fertiliser shortage. Haryana had faced fertiliser shortages under the previous Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government too. In 2021, for instance, a spike in global prices had hurt India's import capacity. Since last year, the Centre has sought to discourage farmers from applying too much urea and DAP as a key policy goal. In recent years, global disruptions like the Russian invasion of Ukraine, have led to shocks in the supply of fertiliser in India, which is heavily dependent on its imports. The rupee's depreciation has also had a negative impact on imports.
Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Haryana's fertiliser row sparks protests and political heat
With farmers staging protests over an alleged shortage of urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilisers, the political tension in Haryana has intensified. As the issue carries significant political sensitivity, the opposition has intensified its pressure on the BJP-led government in Haryana. Officials continue to insist that there is no real shortage. 'Farmers have been rushing to take the fertilisers out of a panic,' an official stated. Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Bains said, 'farmers staged protests at three places in Kurukshetra on July 17, in addition to similar protests in Hisar, Karnal, Mahendragarh, Sirsa and Bhiwani'. On July 17, the farmers allegedly held an agriculture official hostage in Pehowa and blocked the Hisar-Chandigarh highway. Farmer leader Prince Waraich added that senior officers were also gheraoed (surrounded) the following day. 'Currently, the farmers need urea for the paddy crop, but they want DAP for the next crop too. As of now, there is an acute shortage of both fertilisers in the state,' Bains claimed. Official sources say the panic has been triggered by the government's recent move requiring farmers to register on an official web portal to receive fertilisers. 'Some farmers believe they may not get fertilisers because of this condition,' an official said. 'But this requirement is meant to ensure fertilisers are given only to genuine farmers. There have been reports of farmers from neighbouring states acquiring Haryana's supplies while our first priority is the farmers of Haryana.' Government figures show that of the 10.07 lakh metric tonne (MT) urea allocated for the season, 5.8 lakh MT has already arrived in the state. Combined with the earlier stock of 2.7 lakh MT, total availability reaches 8.5 lakh MT, with 7.5 lakh MT already sold. 'Farmers only need 5.91 lakh MT of urea from April 1 to July 19,' an official explained. Regarding DAP, officials confirmed that 1.46 lakh MT had landed in Haryana out of 2.83 lakh MT allocated, with 1.10 lakh MT sold and 36,000 MT currently in stock. An additional 5,467 MT is in transit. Farmers needed only 1.37 lakh MT for the same April to July period, according to the officials. The panic is rooted in previous years' shortfalls. In 2021, then chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had to direct district and police officials to prevent illegal movement of fertiliser outside the state. Again in 2024, during the sowing of mustard and wheat, a nationwide DAP shortage led to chaos, requiring police intervention in distribution. 'DAP is essential during the root development stage,' an official noted. Former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda criticised the government for the current situation. 'Farmers have been waiting in long queues for days, only to return empty-handed. Fertilisers are being sold in black while farmers fear crop losses due to delays,' he said. 'Now the government wants farmers to use a portal. They must explain how fertiliser not available at a cooperative centre will magically appear online.' Congress MP Kumari Selja said the party will raise the issue both in the Assembly and Parliament. Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana said that there is no shortage of urea in Haryana. 'I regularly interact with farmers, and wherever fertiliser is needed, I instruct officers to ensure supply. At present, there is no shortage in the state,' he said, adding that DAP is being imported and delivered daily alongside urea via train. Sukhbir Siwach's extensive and in-depth coverage of farmer agitation against three farm laws during 2020-21 drew widespread attention. ... Read More
Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Despite govt's push for alternatives, water-guzzling paddy expands by 35% in Haryana in ten years
Despite consistent efforts by the Haryana government to promote crop diversification, the area under paddy cultivation has increased by over 35 per cent in the last ten years — from 13.53 lakh hectares in 2015 to 18.37 lakh hectares in 2024. Data accessed by The Indian Express revealed that paddy cultivation expanded steadily between 2015 and 2024, with only two exceptions. The area under paddy grew from 13.53 lakh hectares in 2015 to 15.58 lakh hectares in 2019. It then witnessed marginal declines in 2020 (15.25 lakh hectares) and 2021 (15.33 lakh hectares). However, the upward trend resumed thereafter — rising to 16.61 lakh hectares in 2022, 17.77 lakh hectares in 2023, and reaching 18.37 lakh hectares in 2024. Notably, the dip in paddy cultivation during 2020 and 2021 coincided with the launch of the government's scheme 'Mera Pani Meri Virasat', aimed at encouraging farmers to shift from water-intensive paddy to alternative crops. The scheme included awareness campaigns on water conservation and a financial incentive of Rs 7,000 per acre for those opting for less water-consuming crops such as pulses, cotton, maize, and horticulture (including vegetables and fruits). However, the temporary decline failed to sustain. Farmer leaders cited profitability as the key deterrent. 'Currently, in terms of income, farmers find paddy the most financially viable option, so they are hesitant to leave it,' Mandeep Nathwan, a farm leader from Fatehabad district, said. According to farmer leaders, paddy yields income of nearly Rs 80,000 per acre, with farmers able to retain approximately Rs 50,000 per acre after expenses. Rakesh Bains, a farmer from Kurukshetra district, added: 'if I cultivate paddy, I would get remuneration of Rs 80,000 per acre. But if I opt for an alternative crop, I can earn a maximum of Rs 50,000 per acre'. 'The government talks a lot about alternative crops but does not offer better marketing facilities for them. If I cultivate maize, then I face a lot of difficulties in selling it,' he added. Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran CEO Ravinder Singh Chauhan acknowledged: 'farmers don't hesitate to adopt other crops — provided they are as remunerative as the competitive ones. Better market access and availability of seeds for alternative crops may encourage this shift'. With paddy transplantation underway for the current season, officials are optimistic about improved outcomes. The government has raised the diversification incentive from Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 per acre. 'This may yield good results. We expect that the area under traditional paddy cultivation may come down. Even farmers with limited irrigation resources are adopting direct seeded rice (DSR), which uses up to 90 per cent less water than the conventional puddling method,' an official said. Farmers are also being offered Rs 4,000 per acre to adopt DSR. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday directed senior officials to prepare an action plan for food processing industries based on region-specific crops. According to officials, the goal is to motivate farmers to diversify beyond traditional crops and align with market demand. He instructed that small clusters be identified and centres of excellence developed accordingly. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana recently stated that the government aims to promote crop diversification across 4 lakh acres in 22 districts, with dhaincha (sesbania bispinosa) playing a key role. Under a new initiative to reduce dependency on chemical fertilisers, farmers cultivating Dhaincha as green manure will receive Rs 1,000 per acre. 'Over 3 lakh farmers are expected to benefit from this effort,' he added. Former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier highlighted the state's water challenges. He stated that Haryana's total water availability is 20.93 lakh crore litres, while demand stands at 34.96 lakh crore litres — leaving a gap of nearly 14 lakh crore litres. He emphasised that 86 per cent of water is consumed by agriculture and 5 per cent by horticulture, underlining the urgent need for conservation. Sukhbir Siwach's extensive and in-depth coverage of farmer agitation against three farm laws during 2020-21 drew widespread attention. ... Read More
