Growers are sounding the alarm over the fertilizer crisis

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 take immediate action to curb hoarding, smuggling, counterfeiting and black market urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizers in Sindh immediately; Otherwise, food insecurity could result.

“After asking the federal and provincial governments for action many times, I had to write a letter [available with The Express Tribune] to the COAS to address the insolvency of all the three fertilizer companies: Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited, Engro Fertilizers Limited and Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited. In addition, three Sindh government departments including Sindh Agriculture Extension, Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) and Revenue are involved in hoarding, smuggling, counterfeiting and black market of fertilizers due to nepotism, favoritism and corruption. This is painful to the farmers and increases the cost of agricultural inputs,” said Ali Palh, Advocate and President of Small Growers’ Organization Sindh Agriculture Research Council (SARC), speaking to The Express Tribune.

He pointed out that the government’s substantial subsidies to fertilizer companies have been futile as poor farmers are not benefiting from them, resulting in a severe shortage of fertilizers in the market. “We have laws, including Sindh Fertilizer (Control) Act 1994 and Sindh Fertilizer (Control) Rules 1999. However, they are not implemented to benefit farmers at all,” he pointed out.

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Frustrated with the caretaker government, Jawaid Junejo, Chairman of the Sindh Council of Farmers Organizations, expressed concern that large farmers are forced to buy bags of fertilizer at almost double the prices, while small farmers are unable to get them even with higher prices in Buy . “We have a social media trend. those who provide fertilizers 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 short of fertilizers,” he lamented.

Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA), Senior Vice President, Nabi Bux Sathio, pointed out that instead of controlled price of urea at Rs 3,680 per 50 kg bag, it is being sold for Rs 5,000-5,500 per 50 kg in the market. He pointed out that a 50 kg bag of DAP, which was selling at Rs 9,000 till October 30, is now selling at Rs 15,000 per 50 kg bag due to sowing of wheat and other Rabi season crops.

“A total of 6.5 million tonnes of urea is produced in the country, meeting a local demand of 6.2 million tonnes. We should have a surplus, but no action is taken. Growers need urea and DAP fertilizers for better yield, rapid growth of standing crops. I urged the Sindh Chief Minister during a meeting today (Wednesday) in Hyderabad to publicize the fertilizer portal, set up by the federal government under the Ministry of Industries and Production. In this way, each farmer can receive up-to-date information about the actual fertilizer bags sent to authorized agents in each region. I also suggested setting up an agriculture advisory committee to monitor agricultural issues and resolve problems through monthly meetings,” he concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^u2023.

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