Farmers protest as urea fertiliser crisis intensifies

LAHORE: There has been no let-up in shortage of urea fertilizer and its black-marketing in the peak demand period of wheat sowing, causing discomfort among the farmers who have lodged protest in various districts of the province.

The closing inventory of urea has been recorded at lowest ebb in the month of November, squeezing supplies in the supply chain to second lowest level in the last ten year. With only 0.120 million tons of closing inventory in the last month, short supply of urea is being felt across the province.

The urea fertilizer crisis that has gripped the country for the last week or so has further intensifies, as getting the fertilizer at control rate has virtually becomes a dream for farmers. It is feared that lesser application of urea may affect yield of strategic wheat crop.

Farmers complained that urea fertilizer is not available in the market. If it is found somewhere, that too at exorbitant price of Rs5,000 per 50kg bag against official price of Rs3,400, said Haji Ramzan, Spokesperson Kissan Board Pakistan.

With every passing day, fertilizer crisis is worsening, he claimed and added that the administration is acting like a silent spectator. He demanded of the caretaker prime minister and chief minister to take notice of the grave situation affecting productivity of agriculture. The fertilizer companies have also failed to take action against the dealers involved in the black marketing of farm nutrient, he said.

Pakistan Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Khokhar is also perturbed over non-availability of urea fertilizer at official rate. It is highly deplorable that urea fertilizer has disappeared all over the country, he observed. No one is taking notice of this grave situation as urea fertilizer is being sold at price decided by the dealer. It seems that there is no check and balance.

Khokhar said that the disappointing situation for the farmers urgently warrants government’s intervention. He also called for ensuring uninterrupted supply of gas to the fertilizer industry and ensure ample urea production and availability at one price across the country to avoid middlemen exploitation to the farmers.

According to industry production data, urea sales for November-2023 has been estimated at 0.610 million tons, which is only five percent up over last year’s offtake, which was badly affected due to record floods. In the first 11-month of 2023, urea offtake has been up by four percent year-on-year basis. With production estimated at 0.575 million tons in the month, industry’s closing inventory has been estimated at just 0.120 million tons for November, 2023.