Pakistan mandates fertilizer shops in every district to ensure farmers support

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, directed local fertilizer companies to set up sales outlets in each of the country’s districts. This directive aims to facilitate farmers’ access to fertilizers at fair prices, fostering agricultural development.

The decision emerged from a meeting of the Fertilizer Review Committee, which Hussain chaired, to assess the availability and pricing of fertilizers across Pakistan. The meeting included high-profile attendees such as Saif Anjum, Secretary of Industries & Production, and CEOs from major fertilizer firms like Fauji Fertilizer Company, Engro Fertilizer Limited, Fatima Fertilizer Limited, and Agritec Limited.

During the meeting, Hussain announced that the government had secured full gas supplies for all fertilizer plants, allowing them to operate at maximum capacity. This has created a buffer stock adequate for the current season and ensured smooth distribution across all provinces.

The initiative is set to begin with model store centers similar to those recently established by Fauji Fertilizer Company. Engro Fertilizer Company was specifically asked to expedite their proposals for establishing these centers. These outlets will enable farmers to purchase fertilizers at the original prices directly, thereby curtailing price manipulation and exploitation by intermediaries.

Moreover, the Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to shield farmers from unfair practices by middlemen and instructed provincial authorities to strictly monitor and act against hoarding and price manipulation. The committee expressed satisfaction with the current fertilizer stock levels and called for suggestions from stakeholders for planning the upcoming Rabi planting season.

Additionally, Hussain directed fertilizer companies to separate the sales of urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) to aid farmers further, ensuring they receive necessary supplies without undue bundling or pricing pressures.