The 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. Despite the international price hike, the farmers would get the Fertilizers at old rates of Rs 1200 per bag, he said.
Thakur 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 crops 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 Central Government was providing a subsidy of Rs 500 per bag, he added.
The Chief Minister further said that recently, the international prices of phosphoric acid, ammonia etc. used in DAP had gone up by 60 percent to 70 percent, resulting in an increase in price of DAP bag to Rs 2400 per bag.