Shimla: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur thanked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing relief to farmers of the country and state by increasing the subsidy on Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizers by 140%.
Chief Minister said that the farmers will now get the subsidy of Rs. 1200 per bag on DAP from the existing Rs. 500 per bag. He said that despite the international price hike the farmers would get the fertilizers at old rates of Rs. 1200 per bag.
Chief Minister said that DAP is the second most commonly used fertilizer in India. The annual consumption of DAP is around 1200 to 1500 MT in Himachal Pradesh. He said that farmers normally apply this fertilizer in Rabi season in potato and wheat crop just before or at the time of sowing. It is majorly used in Una, Kangra and some parts of Paonta Sahib and Nalagarh in the State. Last year the actual price of DAP was Rs. 1700 per bag in which the Centre Government was providing subsidy of Rs. 500 per bag. He said that recently, the international prices of phosphoric acid, ammonia etc. used in DAP had gone up by 60% to 70%, resulting in increase in price of DAP bag to Rs. 2400 per bag. He said that the Prime Minister has resolved this big issue by enhancing the subsidy.
Jai Ram Thakur said that at present average consumption of fertilizer nutrients in the State is about 63 kg per hectare against the national average of 132 kg per hectare. He said that fertilizer distribution system in the State is under co-operative network and supply of fertilizers is being ensured through 2143 co-operative societies and depot holders. Chief Minister said that the State Government has entrusted the fertilizer distribution work to HIMFED and IFFCO had also been allowed to supply the fertilizers in their 620 adopted societies.
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