Fertiliser shortage hits potato farmers in Uttar Pradesh

A severe fertiliser shortage is threatening the timely sowing of potato and allied crops such as mustard in the ‘potato belt’ of Uttar Pradesh. Thousands of farmers in the region are facing problems procuring the requisite quantity of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) and urea.

Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) Secretary Keshav Singh told Business Standard that peasants are being forced to buy DAP at the exorbitant rates maintained by the black marketers and illicit hoarders. According to Singh, the co-operative societies and selling centres are able to provide only 20 per cent of the demand, while the rest has to be fulfilled from the open market, which is controlled by the hoarders.