Chandigarh: Punjab agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Tuesday urged the Centre to ensure timely and uninterrupted supply of 5.5 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of DAP and 15 lakh MT of urea for the Rabi season 2026-27.Speaking at the national conference on agriculture for Rabi season 2026, organised by the Union agriculture ministry in New Delhi, Khudian said Punjab requires the fertilisers for sowing major Rabi crops, mainly wheat and potato. He said delays in DAP and urea supplies in previous years had caused difficulties for farmers.Khudian said Punjab has a cultivable area of 41 lakh hectares and contributes 40% of wheat and 22% of paddy to the central foodgrain pool. He urged the Centre to ensure seamless supply so the state could maintain its contribution.The minister said Punjab, once known for cotton cultivation, now has around 80,000 hectares under the crop after unfavourable weather conditions caused damage. If weather conditions remain suitable, a good yield is expected, he said. The state govt provides a 33% subsidy on cotton seeds, benefiting farmers by Rs 4 crore. It has also provided Rs 6 crore to encourage cultivation of oilseeds and pulses.Khudian claimed that 90% of the stubble-burning problem in Punjab had been addressed through crop residue management techniques. He sought immediate release of the next Rs 150 crore instalment so farmers could be provided subsidised machinery to eliminate stubble burning.He thanked the Union agriculture minister for releasing Rs 50 crore to provide 2.5 lakh MT of certified wheat seeds to Punjab farmers at a subsidy of Rs 2,000 per quintal, besides around Rs 43 crore as the second instalment for the state under the Krishonnati Yojana.
