Amidst studies of a scarcity of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) in Punjab, chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday met Union chemical and fertiliser minister JP Nadda to make sure an entire provide of the fertiliser allotted to the state by November 15.
Union minister of chemical substances and fertilizers JP Nadda with Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on the assembly in New Delhi. (PTI)
Mann, who met Nadda in Delhi at his residence, stated that the state contributes round 50% of the availability of wheat within the nationwide meals pool. “DAP is the basic ingredient required for the cultivation of wheat and this year 4.80 lakh metric tonnes of DAP is required in the state for sowing of wheat. So far, the state has received 3.30 lakh metric tonnes of fertiliser which is too inadequate,” Mann stated after the assembly.
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CM stated that it’s comprehensible that there’s a scarcity of DAP as a result of Ukraine warfare and different worldwide causes as 70% of it’s imported.
Nonetheless, he stated that the state wants DAP primarily until November 15 so the Union authorities ought to accord precedence to allocate Punjab its share.
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“This will help in smooth sowing season of wheat in the state and will be in the larger interest of national food security too,” the CM stated.
CM insisted that the paddy procurement operations within the state are going easily.
“Though some hiccups are being created due to non-transportation of earlier procured grains by FCI, we have been raising the issue with Union home minister Amit Shah and Union food minister Pralhad Joshi. Today (Saturday) 4 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was procured in the mandis across the state and the process is going on smoothly,” Mann stated.
The CM additionally slammed ‘baseless’ statements being made by Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu.
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“I am well aware of the problems faced by the farmers and labourers in the mandis. Contrary to this, wealthy, privileged and affluent Bittu is not even aware of the basic dynamics of agriculture,” he stated.
CM additionally suggested the farmers union that ‘excess of everything is bad’ and blocking roads virtually each day with none purpose shouldn’t be justified. “The state government has already solved the problems of arhtiyas and have vehemently raised issues of millers with the Union government due to which procurement has picked up pace. Agitation in the middle of the season that is inconveniencing people is not justified,” Mann stated, including that if the Union authorities doesn’t decide the produce of millers by June 2025 then the state authorities will do it by itself.
Taking a jibe on the Akali Dal, the CM stated that the celebration have now run away from contesting the bypolls within the state. He stated that jathedar by no means debarred Akalis to contest polls however fearing a debacle they’ve determined to not contest the elections.