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PM admits DAP is available in black, hints at fertiliser imports to ease shortage

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today assured the Lok Sabha that the government will resort to imports of fertilisers, if the situation warrants.

He said 250,000 tonnes of fertilizer, lying in different ports are being moved by special rakes to areas where it was in short supply.

Intervening during the question hour, Vajpayee said the government was aware that DAP was in short supply in certain pockets. This was causing a problem to farmers as the sowing season was on.

''It is under restricted list and is available in black,'' he told agitated Opposition members, who said there was shortage all over the country.

The prime minister said only yesterday a deal to buy 55,000 tonnes of fertilizer was finalised with Jordan. The shipment would begin immediately, he said.

Replying to the question of Ram Tahal Chaudhury and Rampal Singh, Minister of State for Agriculture Som Pal said fertilizer imports were continuing even now. There would be no shortage on account of non-availability, he assured the house.

Som Pal said an expert team was being sent to eastern Uttar Pradesh to deal with pest control for the standing rabi paddy crop.

A similar team would be sent to Bihar also, he added.

On the question of farming methods, the minister said there are 26 Union government-run pest control centres in the country. Four more will be set up in the north-east soon.

The centres, which were set up in 1994-95 have so far trained 150,000 farmers in biological control, ground water management and pesticides usage by ''master trainers.''

He said at present minimum support price has been fixed for 24 commodities. ''Subsidies to the farmers is enough,'' he told a questioner.

The ceiling for drip irrigation is Rs 25,000, he said and added that small, Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste farmers get 90 per cent subsidy for drip irrigation while others get 70 per cent subsidy.

UNI

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