The Hindu Business Line : Indian Potash asked to scout for DAP substitutes

New Delhi, Sept. 2 The Department of Fertilisers (DoF) is anticipating problems in the import of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) for the rabi season because of tight supply in the international market.

The DoF has also asked Indian Potash Ltd (IPL), which has been entrusted to import DAP , to scout for mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) and triple superphosphate (TSP), both of which can used as a substitute of DAP, from the international market.

“The DAP requirement which was supposed to have been imported from the end the kharif season till now has not been met. This is due to the tightening on the availability that is being faced in the international market and the same could be felt during the rabi season,” a senior official in the DoF told Business Line.

DAP is a vital nutrient for root establishment of crops and hence has to be applied at the time of sowing. IPL had floated a tender for the import of 1.5 million tonnes which was finalised at $495 per tonne cost and freight last month.

“There was a problem in imports but we feel that this is a short-term phenomena. Though there has been some constraint in the availability of DAP in the international market, the bigger problem has been because of discharge and clearance at ports within the country and also the heavy rains in Gujarat have added to the problem,” an official in IPL said.

According to official estimates, Punjab requires 3.5 lakh tonnes of DAP , Haryana around 3 lakh tonnes, Uttar Pradesh 4.5 lakh tonnes, Madhya Pradesh 2.25 lakh tonnes and Rajasthan 1.5 lakh tonnes.

“These are the five major States that require DAP during the rabi season. We have assured the Punjab Government that their requirement will be met by the first week of October, Haryana’s import requirement will be supplied by the end of November, Uttar Pradesh by December 10. The needs of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will also be met by the end of November,” the company official added.

It is also learnt that IPL is not going ahead with the import of TSP as the company has got the required amount of MAP.

“It is a wrong notion that MAP cannot be used as a substitute for DAP. Both are perfectly interchangeable. This is also being done to diversify the use of other fertilisers and not totally depend on DAP during the sowing season. Another reason is the strong stakes of US manufacturers in global DAP trade and the limitations this poses on the growth of alternate phosphatic fertilisers,” the official said.