Wheat sowing may suffer as goods transporters' strike has badly disturbed the supply of fertiliser in the country. According to market sources the application of Di ammonium phosphate (DAP) is highly recommended at the time of sowing and the sowing of wheat crop may be delayed in major parts of the country, if DAP supplies are not restored immediately.
Since December 4, 2012, goods transporters are on strike for an indefinite period against hijacking of trucks, detention of vehicles and mistreatment of motorway and highway police. The DAP supply is disturbed at a time, when wheat sowing across the country has almost completed and now the farmers need fertiliser for their crop, they said and added that the disturbance will directly hurt wheat production, which is already being expected less than last year.
They said Pakistan being an agriculture economy cannot afford such a situation...the government should take steps to end this strike. Meanwhile, according to Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim Limited statement, due to ongoing strike of the goods transporters' union, the supplies of over 25,000 tons of DAP urea from FFBL plant at Karachi to dealers and farmers of the country is suspended for last five days.
This is in addition to the fact that some politically motivated elements are also harassing the truckers in transit at Hyderabad Toll Plaza on clumsy grounds. According to the FFBL sources the intervention of higher authorities is needed to resolve the issue immediately in the best interest of the country. Fauji Fertiliser Bin Qasim Limited, the only urea and DAP production plant situated in the outskirts of Karachi is unable to transport DAP and urea for farmers across Pakistan. There is also a shortage of DAP in the upper parts of the country. Sources said this situation may result in huge losses to agriculture sector and wheat sowing target may also be affected.