Farmers in Punjab, who are struggling because of massive shortage of diammonium phosphate (DAP) needed for sowing the Rabi crop, have no support of the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government.
The state government has failed miserably to ensure DAP to the farmers, who have been running pillar to post to get the much-needed fertilizer even as the time for sowing the crop is running out.
Instead of arranging the required stuff for the farming community, the state government has levelled allegation against the Narendra Modi government, saying it’s the centre that has not provided the required amount of fertilizer to the state.
The Modi government, however, refuted the charges and said required amount of DAP was ensured for Punjab and it was the state government officials and leaders who had to do their bit to secure uninterrupted supply of the same to the farmers.
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Meanwhile, reports of black marketing of DAP are also doing rounds in the state.
The affected farmers have also been demanding right price for their paddy crop. Various social media platforms are full of pictures and videos wherein farmers could be seen waiting in long queues for a sack of DAP fertilizer.
The reports of farmers’ protests, and hoarding and black marketing of DAP fertilizer are being published almost everywhere on the Internet-based computer applications and websites.
However, the state government, which is facing embarrassing situation because of the prevailing chaos, has taken few steps to deal with the crisis but failed to address the issue till date.
Licenses of 91 firms, which produce DAP, have been cancelled. FIR has also been registered against three of these companies. To deal with issue of fertilizer hoarding and black marketing, the AAP government has also formed five flying squad teams.
In such a situation, the question is, was the Punjab government not ready to stop hoarding and black marketing of DAP fertilizer? If preparations were made, then why concrete steps were not taken in time.
Was the Bhagwant Mann government lying?
Amid all these questions, the important one is, if the Punjab government was lying about the supply of DAP fertilizer?
Actually, Chief Minister Mann had said that Punjab was not getting its share of DAP fertilizer. The state government had also written a letter to the Center demanding fertilizer.
It was also said that 150,000 metric tones of DAP fertilizer was made available to Punjab by the Central Government till July 1, 2024.
The Central Government said in a statement that adequate supply of DAP fertilizer was made to Punjab.
“Recently, some media reports claimed that there was a shortage of DAP in Punjab which could badly affect the Rabi crop. These reports are misleading, wrong and lack facts,” the official statement from the Centre said.
It also stated that in the beginning of October 2024, Punjab had 990,00 metric tones of DAP fertilizer in stock.
Also, till October 29, 2024, 191000 metric tones of DAP fertilizer was sent to Punjab by the Central Government.
Along with this statement of the Center, the data of consumption of DAP fertilizer by the Punjab government, was also released. It said that Punjab has consumed 100,000 metric tones of DAP fertilizer till 29 October 2024.
Now, if we look at the claim of the Punjab government, Bhagwant Mann had said 150,000 metric tones of DAP fertilizer was made available to Punjab by the Central Government till July 1 this year.
The record makes it clear that the amount of DAP fertilizer made available to the Punjab government by the Center in July has not been spent till date.
However, CM Mann is blaming the union government for the shortage. Whereas the truth is that the state government could neither arrange the supply of DAP fertilizer sent by the Center, nor was it able to check hoarding and black marketing.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal keeps praising the Punjab model of governance but the state government fails to supply DAP fertilizer to the farmers. Also, instead of accepting its mistake, it is blaming the central government.
Now the question is, why the Punjab government was lying even if there was ample supply of DAP fertilizer?
And when will the farmers get fertilizer?
In reality, the farmers those who are relying on the Punjab government are standing in long queues outside the distribution centers, hoping to get a sack of DAP fertilizer. The Bhagwant Mann government is busy levelling allegations and counter-allegations.
It is worth noting here that the farmers’ movement that led to anarchy in the national capital city of Delhi is fully supported by the Punjab government.
On would recall how Kejriwal sent water tankers to the agitating farmers.