Shimla, March 25: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has begun to impact the availability of essential agricultural inputs in Himachal Pradesh, leading to the introduction of rationing measures. The Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Marketing and Consumers Federation Limited (Himfed) announced that it is currently unable to keep pace with the surging demand for urea and NPK fertilizers, primarily due to global logistical hurdles and raw material shortages.
Maheshwar Chauhan, Chairman of Himfed, stated that the organization is working to ensure equitable distribution among all farmers despite the current constraints. He maintained that the high demand in apple-growing regions—where urea is vital ahead of the bloom period—has made the rationing necessary. The supply chain has been further strained by disruptions in the availability of liquefied natural gas (LNG), a critical feedstock for fertilizer manufacturing plants that has been affected by the regional instability.
According to Himfed, the situation was compounded by a delay in the central government’s allocation of fertilizers to National Fertilizers Limited (NFL). Chauhan affirmed that while the federation had previously contacted the centre regarding these delays, the outbreak of war has significantly worsened the outlook. To address liquidity and ensure procurement for the coming months, the federation has secured a loan from the National Cooperative Development Corporation.
While officials declared that steps are being taken to stabilize the supply for May, they cautioned that a prolonged conflict could lead to further shortages. Investigators noted that the dependence on imported raw materials remains a primary vulnerability for the state’s agricultural sector during periods of international volatility.
