Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Kewal Singh Dhillon has written a formal letter to Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers J.P. Nadda, urging the Centre to ensure an uninterrupted and timely supply of DAP and urea across Punjab during the ongoing paddy sowing season. The letter, sent from Chandigarh, follows a meeting between Dhillon and Nadda on 6 June in which the fertiliser supply situation was discussed at length.

Why the Demand Is Urgent

With paddy sowing now fully underway across Punjab, Dhillon flagged that fertiliser demand in the state peaks sharply in June and July. Any supply disruption during this window, he warned, forces farmers to queue for hours outside cooperative societies and fertiliser outlets — directly threatening sowing timelines. 'Such delays can disrupt sowing operations, adversely affecting crop yields and ultimately impacting the nation's food security,' the letter stated.

The Black-Marketing Risk

Dhillon also drew the minister's attention to a recurring consequence of fertiliser scarcity: hoarding and black marketing by what the letter described as 'unscrupulous elements.' When supply tightens, farmers are reportedly compelled to purchase DAP and urea at prices above the government-mandated rate, adding to input costs at a time when margins are already under pressure.

Key Demands Raised

To pre-empt a shortage, Dhillon made four specific requests to the ministry. First, he sought the immediate release of an additional DAP quota for Punjab. Second, he requested that a buffer stock of two to three lakh metric tons be maintained in the state well before demand peaks. Third, he asked the ministry to prepare and share a monthly urea supply schedule with the Punjab government for smoother distribution planning. Fourth, he called for a real-time joint monitoring mechanism involving the Union Ministry, fertiliser companies — specifically IFFCO and NFL — and the state government to prevent any artificial shortage from developing.

Centre's Existing Response

Dhillon acknowledged in the letter that the Central government is already aware of the issue's seriousness and has been supplying fertilisers as required. However, he argued that reactive supply is insufficient given the seasonal concentration of demand, and that proactive buffer stocking and coordinated monitoring are essential to avoid a repeat of past shortages.

What Comes Next

The ball is now in the Union Ministry's court. Industry observers note that Punjab accounts for a disproportionately large share of India's paddy output, making its fertiliser logistics a matter of national food-security concern. If the ministry acts on the buffer-stock and monitoring proposals, it could set a precedent for other high-demand states heading into the kharif season.