Fertilizer Subsidy Raised But Farmers Face Supply Woes

Panjab farmers continue to face considerable difficulty over paddy procurement. The yield remains low, moisture is high, and grains are turning black. In Giddarbaha, Muktsar district, paddy is not being procured because of shortage of jute bags. At the same time, even for the next wheat crop, farmers in the state are facing a dearth of fertilizers. On 2 Nov, a delegation of farmers led by the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha (a farmers union) met Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Gursahib Singh Patti to apprise him of the problems they are facing in procuring fertilizers, especially Diammonium Phosphate (DAP). The farmers said cooperative societies are forcing farmers to purchase fertilizers from private dealers who are selling bags of DAP and urea for USD 18 and 4.5, respectively. They are also forcing them to buy unnecessary tagged items along with fertilizers. They demanded all farmers should receive DAP and urea at USD 15 per bag which is the government rate and tagging unwanted items should be stopped. Earlier, on 28 Oct, the union Indian government approved USD 4.283M as fertilizer subsidy for the ongoing winter season. The subsidy on phosphorous (P) and sulphur (S) fertilizers has been increased by USD 83M. Meanwhile, between 29 Oct–3 Nov, Panjab has recorded 2,518 stubble burning cases in 17 districts. The figure is less than 4,132 cases during the same time period in 2024, and 12,813 in 2023. Concurrently, on 17 Oct, the Khanna police busted fraudulent investment scheme Generation of Farming in which 23K investors had invested at least USD 30M. The police arrested 8 people. On 27 Oct, the police lodged the fourth First Information Report against the owner of the firm Bikramjit Singh and others. The firm lured innocent people by promising them 8% monthly returns on investments, claiming that money invested in the firm would double in 25 months. In March 2025, mainstream media had even covered the farm’s success, writing about the firm in glowing terms (earlier coverage).