Farmers in Kerala wait for the elusive fertilizers

Acute shortage in the past two weeks primarily due to delayed shipment

An acute shortage of fertilizers has left the State’s farmers in distress. Fertilizers such as urea, muriate of potash (MoP), phosphate fertilizersand complex fertilizers, which are various combinations of above three, have been in short supply for the past two weeks.

According to the Agriculture Department figures, the Central allotment of di-ammonium phosphate, popularly known as DAP, to the State in September was 2,600 tonnes. But the State has got only 500 tonnes till September 12. DAP is a preferred fertilizer since it contains both nitrogen and phosphorus which are part of 18 essential plant nutrients. The allotments of muriate of potash and urea were 12,500 tonnes and 13,400 tonnes respectively, but the State got only 2,891 tonnes and 1,470 tonnes respectively.

The supply of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizers (complex fertilizers) was 4,753 tonnes as against the allotment of 14,200 tonnes, Agriculture Department sources said.