Growers sound alarm on fertiliser crisis

Seek immediate intervention to tackle fertiliser black market during crucial wheat sowing season

KARACHI:

Growers in Sindh have appealed to the federal and provincial governments, as well as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, to take notice and prompt action to curb hoarding, smuggling, counterfeiting, and the black market of Urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilisers in Sindh immediately; otherwise, food insecurity could ensue.

“After demanding action from the federal and provincial governments on multiple occasions, I had to write a letter [available with The Express Tribune] to the COAS to address the ineptitude of all three fertiliser companies: Fauji Fertiliser Company Limited, Engro Fertilisers Limited, and Fatima Fertiliser Company Limited. Additionally, three Sindh government departments, including Sindh Agriculture Extension, Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), and Revenue, are being implicated in hoarding, smuggling, counterfeiting, and the black market of fertilisers due to nepotism, favouritism, and corruption. This is agonising farmers and driving up input costs of agricultural produce,” said Ali Palh, Advocate and President of the Small Growers’ Organisation Sindh Agriculture Research Council (SARC), speaking to The Express Tribune.

He highlighted that the government’s substantial subsidies to fertiliser companies have been in vain, as poor growers are not benefiting from them, leading to an acute shortage of fertilisers in the market. “We have laws, including the Sindh Fertiliser (Control) Act 1994 and Sindh Fertiliser (Control) Rules 1999; however, they are not being implemented to benefit peasants at all,” he emphasised.

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Frustrated with the caretaker government, Jawaid Junejo, Chairman of the Farmer Organisations Council Sindh, expressed concern that large farmers are being compelled to purchase fertiliser sacks at almost double rates, while small growers are unable to obtain them, even at higher rates in the market. “We are running a social media trend; those who provide fertilisers at government rates to farmers will garner votes from the people in the upcoming general elections. This is the wheat sowing season, and we are being deprived of fertilisers,” he lamented.

Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA), Senior Vice President, Nabi Bux Sathio highlighted that instead of a controlled Urea price at Rs3,680 per 50kg bag, it is being sold for Rs5,000-5,500 per 50kg in the market. He pointed out that a 50kg sack of DAP, which was sold at Rs9,000 until October 30, is now being sold at Rs15,000 per 50kg bag due to wheat sowing and other Rabi season crops.

“A total of 6.5 million tonnes of Urea are being produced in the country, meeting a local demand of 6.2 million tonnes. We should have a surplus, but no action is being taken. Growers need Urea and DAP fertilisers for better yield, rapid growth of standing crops. I urged the Sindh Chief Minister during a meeting today (Wednesday) in Hyderabad to make the fertiliser portal, set up by the federal government under the Ministry of Industries and Production, public. This way, every farmer can obtain updated information about actual bags of fertilisers sent to authorised dealers in every district. I also proposed forming an agriculture advisory committee to monitor agriculture issues and fix problems through monthly meetings,” he concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2023.

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