Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, said that there is no shortage of DAP in the state. He accused the opposition of spreading rumors about a DAP shortage for political gain. The Chief Minister emphasized that this year the state government has made more DAP available to farmers compared to the previous year, and any additional demand from farmers will be fulfilled in a timely manner.
Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini was replying after the discussion on the Governor's address during the ongoing session of Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today. He said that as of November 13 this year, 1.77 lakh metric tons of DAP have been consumed in Haryana, compared to 1.62 lakh metric tons by the same date last year.
This means the government has provided 15,000 metric tons more DAP to farmers. He further assured that by November 15, an additional 14,750 metric tons of DAP will be received in districts across the state. Taking a dig at the opposition, Sh. Saini pointed out that during the Congress-led government, the demand for DAP continuously increased, but the government never took adequate steps to meet it.
He recalled that there was never a year during their tenure when farmers did not face a shortage of fertilizers. Take out the proceedings of this assembly in any year, be it 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, the issue of shortage of fertilizers has been echoing here. Every year DAP was not available at the time of sowing and farmers had to buy fertilizer in black.
Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, reiterated that his government has consistently prioritized the availability of fertilizer over the past ten years, ensuring that farmers have adequate supply each year. He also highlighted the government's strong stance against the black marketing of DAP, noting that strict action has been taken against those involved.
This year, a total of 185 raids have been conducted across the state, resulting in the issuance of 105 show-cause notices, the suspension of 21 licenses, the cancellation of 8 licenses, the registration of 7 FIRs, and the stoppage of sales in 16 cases. The Chief Minister said that by November 13 last year, 1.62 lakh metric tonnes of DAP had been consumed.
In comparison, 1.77 lakh metric tonnes had been consumed by the same date this year, reflecting an increase in supply. Responding to concerns raised by a member regarding DAP figures in Jhajjar district, the Chief Minister said that from October 1 to November 12 last year, farmers in Jhajjar had purchased 4,455 metric tonnes of DAP.
This year, during the same period, farmers have already purchased 5,892 metric tonnes, representing a 32 per cent increase in DAP supply to the district. At present, 555 metric tonnes of DAP stock is available in Jhajjar district. Additionally, another shipment of 1,140 metric tonnes of DAP is scheduled to arrive in the district on November 15.
He said that from October 1 to November 13, farmers in Narnaund have purchased a total of 2,090 metric tonnes of DAP. He assured that any additional demand for DAP will be promptly met, ensuring farmers in the region continue to receive the required supply.
4,04,742 metric tonnes of urea available in various districts
The Chief Minister said that a total of 11.20 lakh metric tonnes of urea has been allocated to Haryana for the Rabi season 2024-25. As of now, the state has already received 6,57,731 metric tonnes of urea. In various districts, 4,04,742 metric tonnes of urea is still available, ensuring there is no shortage of urea in the state.
Sh. Saini highlighted the government's commitment to supporting farmers, noting that between 2005 and 2014, the previous government allocated Rs. 1,158 crore in crop loss compensation. In contrast, the present state government has provided Rs. 14,860.29 crore to farmers as compensation for crop loss since 2014, through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to their accounts.
The Chief Minister also urged members to encourage farmers to adopt the Prakritik Kheti Yojana (Natural Farming Scheme). So far, 23,776 farmers have registered on the department's portal, and 9,910 farmers have been verified. This initiative helps reduce the dependency on DAP and urea, promoting sustainable farming practices.
The case of death of farmer in Jind is not related to DAP fertilizer
On the issue of death of farmer in Jind, the Chief Minister said that it is very sad that Sh Rambhagat committed suicide by consuming pesticide on November 6. But it is even sadder that some people are trying to give political colour to this incident. He said that as per revenue records, deceased Sh Rambhagat does not have any land in village Bhikhewala.
His father Sh Kidar Singh has 3 Kanal cultivable land and 125 yards Ghairmumkin land in village Bhikhewala. Sh Rambhagat had not even registered on Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal. As far as availability of DAP is concerned, Bhikhewala village comes under Danoda PACS and at least 1200 bags of DAP were available daily in Danoda PACS from November 1 to 6, he added.
The Chief Minister said that even on the day Sh Rambhagat committed suicide, 1224 bags of DAP were available in Danoda PACS and on that day more than 600 bags of DAP were sold there. In the FIR lodged in Police Station Uklana on November 7 in this case, his maternal uncle Sh Satbir Singh, village Kapdo, district Hisar has clearly stated that Sh Rambhagat was mentally disturbed for many days.
Therefore, this case is not related to DAP fertilizer. It is sad that instead of feeling sad over the death of the farmer, some people are trying to take political advantage of it.
Farmer's interest is paramount for the state government
The Chief Minister said that farmer's interest is paramount for us. In the last 10 years, the government has stood with the farmers from seed to market. In our Sankalp Patra, we had pledged to buy every grain of all those 24 crops, whose MSP is fixed. The state government is buying every grain of paddy and millet in the current Kharif season at MSP.
He said that the government has so far bought 51.40 lakh metric tonnes of paddy out of about 52 lakh metric tonnes of paddy that has arrived in the mandis. The remaining paddy will also be bought by November 15. Similarly, 4.76 lakh metric tonnes of millet has arrived in the mandis so far.
Out of this, 4. 67 lakh metric tonnes of millet has been bought at MSP. Apart from this, the arrival of moong has also started in the mandis. So far 1033 tonnes of moong has arrived. Out of this, 580 tonnes of moong has been procured. We have so far transferred Rs. 13,500 crores for the purchase of crops from farmers to their bank accounts through DBT.
He said that considering the important role of commission agents in crop purchase, the state government has also taken care of their interests. The government has increased the commission of commission agents from Rs. 46 per quintal to Rs. 55 per quintal.
There has been a 45 percent reduction in incidents of stubble burning this year
The Chief Minister said that till November 8, there have been 906 incidents of stubble burning in the state. Out of these, 22 incidents have happened due to accidental reasons. Last year, there were 1649 incidents of stubble burning during this period. Thus, there has been a 45 percent reduction in these incidents this year.
The Hon'ble Supreme Court has also appreciated this. The state government has also taken strict action against the nodal officers who did not discharge their responsibilities properly. The government has suspended 26 such officers and employees. Show cause notices have been issued to about 250 officers and employees.
This is the first time in the state that officers have also been held accountable for pollution. He said that this year paddy was sown in about 38. 87 lakh acres of area in the state. For the management of stubble, a plan was made to use 22. 65 lakh metric tonnes of stubble as fodder.
Apart from this, 33 lakh metric tonnes of stubble is being managed in the fields itself and 25.39 lakh metric tonnes of stubble is being used in industries etc.
Annual Action Plan of Rs. 268.18 Crore approved for Crop Residue Management in 2024-25
He said that in the previous year 2023-24, the state had allocated Rs. 120 crore to 1.10 lakh farmers, providing them with Rs. 1,000 per acre for not burning crop residue. This year, 11.21 lakh acres have been registered under the scheme, and farmers can continue registering their land on the portal until November 30.
Payments to all registered farmers will be made in the first week of December, at the rate of Rs. 1,000 per acre. The Chief Minister said that the state government has approved an annual action plan of Rs. 268.18 crore for the Crop Residue Management Scheme for the year 2024-25.
This plan focuses on the management and utilization of crop residues, including straw, and is being implemented in collaboration with the Central Government, which has contributed Rs. 161 crore, while the state government has allocated Rs. 107 crore for the initiative. He said that to tackle the issue of stubble burning, the state has provided 8,117 super seeders and 1,727 baler-making units for effective stubble management.
Since 2018-19, a total of 1,00,882 machines have been distributed to farmers on subsidy. Additionally, to help reduce pollution caused by stubble burning in the National Capital Region, the state has established 6,794 custom hiring centers. These centers receive 50 per cent subsidy, while individual farmers are given 80 per cent subsidy on equipment.
To date, Rs. 721 crore has been provided as subsidy to Haryana farmers for these purposes. He said that in a bid to ensure the uninterrupted supply of stubble to industries, the state government has allocated Rs. 25 crore for the stubble supply chain.
The government has already received 110 applications from industries looking to utilize crop residues. To further reduce stubble and encourage crop diversification, the state is promoting the Mera Pani-Meri Virasat Yojana, which incentivizes farmers to cultivate crops other than paddy. As a result of this scheme, the area under paddy cultivation has decreased by approximately 2 lakh acres.
Under this scheme, farmers receive Rs. 7,000 per acre for sowing alternative crops in paddy fields. In the current financial year, 33,712 farmers have registered 66,181 acres of land for crop diversification. In addition, the state provides Rs. 500 per acre for transporting straw bundles to cow shelters, with a maximum subsidy of Rs. 15,000 per shelter.
To further incentivize the collection of straw, the state has set a purchase price of Rs. 2,500 per tonne of straw, which includes costs for bundling and transportation. An additional Rs. 500 per tonne will be paid for straw with less than 20 per cent moisture content.
He said that to address the environmental challenge posed by stubble burning, the state has also established biomass projects in Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Fatehabad, and Jind, which are generating 30 MW of electricity from crop residue. Furthermore, stubble is being used to produce biofuels, with the Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, inaugurating the 2G ethanol plant at Panipat Refinery on August 10, 2022.
He urged each member to educate farmers in their areas about the benefits of government schemes and encourage them to participate in these programs, thereby avoiding the harmful practice of stubble burning.