New Delhi: The month of April has brought two back-to-back positive news from the agriculture sector. According to the latest official data released today, the sale of fertilisers to farmers in the first three weeks of this month has recorded a sharp jump over the sales figures during the same period of last year.
“During April 1 to 22nd April, the point of sale of fertilizers to farmers was 10.63 lakh tonnes, which is 32% higher than last year’s sale,” said an official in the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers.
The retail sale of fertilisers to farmers, during the same period of last year had been pegged at around 8.02 lakh tonnes.
It shows that the inclusion of agriculture activity in the essential services allowed the farmers to continue with the farming activity in the hinterland parts of the country, largely unaffected by a nationwide lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The growth rate in the sale of fertilisers to dealers was even higher. During the first 22 days of this month, dealers purchased 15.77 lakh tonnes of fertilisers, a growth of 46% over the sales recorded during the same period of last year, which had been pegged at around 10.79 lakh tonnes.
“Despite a lot of restrictions on the movement, the production and supply of fertilisers in the country is going on without any problem due to the concerted efforts made by Central and state authorities,” said an official in the department of fertilisers.
“41 fertilizer rakes moved from plants & ports on April 17. This is the highest movement of fertilizers during the lockdown period in a single day,” said an official in the ministry.
One Railway rake carries 3000 tonnes of fertilisers.
“All the precautions to avoid COVID-19 have been taken during the loading, unloading and transportation of fertilisers in the country. Masks and all other preventive equipment are provided to labourers and all other working staff,” said the official.
Sharp jump in Kharif sowing recorded this month
In a related development, the government has reported a sharp jump in the Kharif sowing this month. According to the latest official data released earlier this month, the Kharif sowing area recorded a growth of 31% over the average sowing area for the Kharif season.
The total sowing for Kharif season, which includes crops like rice, pulses, oil seeds and other coarse cereals, was at around 48.8 lakh hectares, 31% more than the usual sowing area for the season.
The biggest spike was registered in the sowing area for rice, which registered a growth of 37% over the rice sowing area for the same period last year.
However, this is the pre-monsoon sowing of the crop, as the major rice sowing in paddy producing states will be done after the onset of monsoon.
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Pulses have also recorded a sharp increase in the sowing area, the data released by the agriculture ministry showed.
The met department has also forecast a normal monsoon this year, giving much relief to the government and policy makers as the agriculture sector may emerge as a bright spot during the period of economic recession caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 global pandemic.
“As far as food security is concerned, there is no dearth of food grain in the country and there will be no problem in future either,” said Dr. P Chengal Reddy, Chief Advisor of Consortium of Indian Farmers Associations.
“Growth in rice sowing area is good but the government must focus on diversifying the crops to tackle the disruptions caused by the COVID-19,” Dr. Reddy told ETV Bharat.
He said the government should adopt a commodity wise approach and encourage production of fruits and vegetables, instead of overtly relying on staple food grains like wheat and rice.
(Article by Krishnanand Tripathi)
