Date:10/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/10/stories/2008061053240300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Karur farmers apprehensive of fertilizer availability

L. Renganathan

They have to prepare their fields for raising paddy nurseries for transplantation

Mettur dam to be opened on June 12
“Encourage domestic production”

KULITHALAI: With less than a week to go for the formal reopening of the Mettur Dam for irrigation in the Cauvery delta districts, farmers in the Kulithalai region of Karur district at the head of the delta are apprehensive of fertilizer availability.

In particular they allege that there is acute shortage of Di-Ammonium Phosphate, Super Phosphate and Ammonium Phosphate Sulphate 20:20 in the region at present.

Authorities have already stated that the Mettur Dam would be opened for delta irrigation on the customary June 12. But the farmers who have to prepare their fields for raising paddy nurseries for transplantation are apprehensive of the availability of phosphate-based fertilizers as there is little stock available in the open market.

Farmers say that for paddy crop, 50 kg of DAP is required for an acre while 100 kg of 20:20 is needed. For banana crop, 150 kg of DAP or 250-300 kg 20:20 are required.

Karur district farmers need at least 600 tonne DAP over the next 40 days. Official sources indicate that a stock of around 150 tonne DAP is available with the primary agricultural cooperative societies.

Other farmers’ requirements need to be taken into account but the shortfall is there to be met. That is where the concern of officials and farmers lie.

There is practically little stock of DAP and Super Phosphate are left with the private dealers and after allocation for mixed fertilizers production. Informed sources claimed that a shipment of DAP had arrived. But that 10,000 tonne cargo could never meet the aspirations and demands of even the Thanjavur delta farmers leave alone other area agriculturists.

They want the Central Government to encourage domestic production rather than concentrate on importing certain fertilizers by restoring subsidies to the maximum extent possible.

“We don’t want any more government assurances on the availability of fertilizers, especially DAP and Super Phosphate. Only we want those farm inputs so that when water comes we could take to farming without any trouble,” they say.