Potentials of Fertiliser Marketing in Punjab

摘要

Punjab, geographically a small state, plays very significant role in foodgrain production in the country. The state has only 4.2% of the gross cropped area but contributes about 12.9% of the total foodgrain production. It has highest productivity of rice and wheat, however, the productivity level Is stagnant or declining for the past five years. Fertiliser nutrient consumption in the state is gradually increasing and it is 217.72 kg N+P+K/ha, with a ratio of 34:9:1. Fertiliser use in the state is mostly restricted to Urea, DAP, MOP and 12:32:16 complex. There has been excessive use of N, optimum use of P and scarce use of K, leading to heavy mining of potassium and imbalance in soil fertility. There is a case of reducing N consumption to the extent of 3.88 lakh tonnes and increasing K consumption 4-5 fold. Site-specific nutrient management incorporating secondary and micronutrient application needs to be encouraged for achieving higher production. The state has good ramification of fertiliser dealers, warehouses, road and rail network. However, more sale points are required to serve each village with one fertiliser outlet. Use of GIS tools in this exercise shall be appropriate to ensure availability of fertilisers to the entire spread of market area. Composition of fertiliser sales requires changing in favour of less used fertilisers i.e. potassium, secondary nutrient S and micronutrients Zn, Mn, Cu and B, so that crop productivity Is sustained and soil fertility is also maintained. Fertiliser dealers and farmers need to be sensitised about such changes.