Fertilizer crisis in Himachal Pradesh ahead of maize sowing; consignment not reached IFFCO warehouses

June 15, 2026

A fertilizer crisis has intensified for farmers even before the start of the Kharif season maize sowing. Consignments of the 12-32-16 fertilizer—widely used during maize sowing—have not yet reached IFFCO warehouses across the state, causing anxiety among farmers. Traditionally, maize sowing operations pick up pace from mid-June, and soil moisture levels are currently adequate in various parts of the state following recent rains. While the 12-32-16 fertilizer is the most commonly used variety during sowing, most warehouses are currently empty. Farmers have been making repeated trips to the warehouses for days, but are unable to secure the fertilizer.

Farmer Jaswinder Singh stated that the warehouses are empty just when the fertilizer is needed most, forcing them to look for alternatives. The absence of the 12-32-16 fertilizer is bound to impact the crop. Farmer Rohit Kumar noted that timely fertilizer application plays a crucial role in ensuring good crop yields, yet it is unavailable anywhere right now; he even visited distant, large warehouses without success. Meanwhile, the maize sowing deadline is fast approaching. If this situation persists, it will be the first time in years that sowing must be done without applying this fertilizer.

Raw Material Imports Stalled Due to Conflict
Reports suggest that the import of raw materials used to manufacture fertilizer has been disrupted by war-like conditions in the Gulf region. This has directly impacted fertilizer production and supply across the country. Insufficient supplies are reaching the state, creating an atmosphere of concern within the agricultural sector. According to Dr. Prem Thakur, Deputy Director of the District Agriculture Department, farmers in Una have been applying 12-32-16 NPK fertilizer during sowing for decades; consequently, the unavailability of this fertilizer at sowing time could hinder the initial growth of the maize crop. Farmers state that if the supply of fertilizer does not improve in the coming days, sowing operations could be disrupted, potentially impacting overall production.

Used for apples as well as vegetables
In Solan, fertilizers are used extensively for cash crops—such as tomatoes, capsicum, cauliflower, and apples—as well as for maize. There are concerns that the unavailability of fertilizer could adversely affect both crop yield and quality. Although HIMFED placed orders for fertilizer as early as April, the supply of raw materials has been disrupted due to the ongoing international conflict, hindering fertilizer production.