Government expects record rabi output despite fertiliser shipment delays

Incensed by the shipment delay of fertilisers due to geopolitical tensions, the Central government is upbeat about achieving record foodgrain production in the 2024-25 rabi season. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Tuesday announced favourable conditions at the national conference for crop growth, citing the adequacy of soil moisture and water levels in the reservoirs.

Chouhan had earlier sought to reassure stakeholders that key fertilisers, such as urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP), would be in enough supply, insisting "The shipments are delayed. However, there is no shortage of fertilisers. We have made arrangements and there is enough supply for the rabi season."

Fixing ambitious targets for foodgrain production at 164.55 lakh tonnes in the ensuing rabi season, the government included wheat at 115 lakh tonnes and pulses at 18.15 lakh tonnes. The sowing of rabi crops has already begun and is expected to go into full swing after the Diwali festival.

Secretary to the Ministry of fertilizers, Rajat Kumar Mishra, said that India has been diverting DAP shipments from Morocco through South Africa, which has added about 21 days to delivery times due to disruptions in the Red Sea routes. India imports about 60 per cent of its DAP requirements-about 5.5 million tonnes for the rabi season, as well as from other countries such as Russia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and China.

Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Himanshu Pathak, is optimistic about the upcoming season and is hopeful for a climate-resilient and good wheat crop. He attributes it to favourable water levels in reservoirs, good weather forecasts, and good soil moisture conditions prevailing during the planting season. However, he does believe that seeds, too, have played a significant role and points out that nearly 70 per cent of last year's wheat cultivation was with climate-resilient and bio-fortified seeds.

Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi today urged increasing gram cultivation as production has declined in the last couple of years, resulting in imports. Officials said that on average over the last five years, 668 lakh hectares had been under rabi crops, and wheat covered 312 lakh hectares.

The government has now announced higher minimum support prices for wheat and other winter-sown crops to boost plantings. The conference was attended by six state agriculture ministers and Union Ministers of State for Agriculture Ramnath Thakur and Bhagirath Choudhary.

In addition, the digital initiatives for farmer data registration have also been discussed with crop surveys already underway in two states, proposed to be implemented pan-India next year.