Haryana

• 27 Nov 2024

Haryana Farmers Face Fertilizer Shortfall

Why in News?

Haryana, a state pivotal to India's agricultural economy, is facing an escalating crisis of fertilizer shortage and penalty for stubble burning.

• It highlights the challenges of governance, rural distress, and the delicate balance between policy implementation and farmers' welfare.

Key Points

• Fertilizer Shortages:
  • Despite government denials at both the state and central levels, Haryana has witnessed acute shortages of diammonium phosphate (DAP), a crucial fertilizer for the Rabi season.
• Shortfall in Supply:
  • A 38% gap between assessed requirements and availability in October 2024, exacerbated by reduced imports despite stable global DAP prices.
• Dependence on Imports:
  • India’s heavy reliance on imported fertilizers and raw materials like phosphoric acid has made the sector vulnerable to global price volatility and monopolies.
• Policy Gaps:
  • The introduction of Point of Sale machines to regulate fertilizer distribution has inadvertently restricted access, forcing many farmers to resort to black markets.
• Stubble Burning:
  • Stubble burning, a seasonal practice by farmers to clear fields for Rabi sowing, has drawn severe criticism for its contribution to air pollution, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR).
    • The Haryana government, following central directives, has imposed hefty fines and introduced "red entries" in farm records to penalize offenders.
• Related Challenges:
  • Farmer Resistance: Farmers argue that stubble burning is a necessity in the absence of viable alternatives.
    • Penalties, FIRs, and blacklisting of crops for procurement have fueled resentment.
  • Disproportionate Blame: While stubble burning is a contributor to air pollution, farmers feel unfairly targeted compared to other sources like construction and industrial emissions.
  • Policy Contradictions: Despite previous assurances of no criminal liability, the government has intensified punitive measures, creating distrust among the farming community.
  • Broader Agrarian Distress: The twin crises of fertilizer shortages and stubble burning penalties reflect deeper systemic issues in Haryana’s agricultural governance.
    • Farmers also face challenges such as black-marketing of fertilizers, irregularities in mandi procurement processes, and inadequate support for tenant farmers.
• Way Forward
  • The issue calls for comprehensive strategies such as promoting stubble management technologies and incentivizing alternatives rather than punitive measures alone.
  • There is a need for better coordination between environmental objectives and agricultural realities.
  • Ensuring timely availability of essential inputs like fertilizers through robust procurement, storage, and distribution mechanisms.
  • Developing farmer-friendly alternatives to stubble burning and providing adequate subsidies for technological interventions.
  • Reducing dependency on imports through investments in domestic production of fertilizers and raw materials.