Gulf conflict pushes up fertiliser prices, but supply will stay steady: Jakhar

Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, said that the Center is committed to ensuring uninterrupted supply of fertilizers to farmers even as the Gulf conflict has increased global prices of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and urea.

He called on farmers to use fertilizers consciously, in line with the recommendations of agricultural universities, to prevent waste and protect soil health.

Based on prevailing subsidy rates, Punjab farmers are likely to get fertilizer subsidy of around ₹ 32,000 crore this year, he said.

“Wheat and paddy farmers are effectively receiving fertilizer subsidy of around Rs 42,000 per acre,” he said at a press conference. “While India imports urea at a price of around ₹100 per kg, farmers buy it at a price of only ₹6 per kg.”

Mann attacks the Center

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accused the Center of failing on both the foreign and economic policy front and claimed that the country was facing disorder as a result.

“The Modi government has completely failed in foreign policy and economic policy, resulting in the country being in turmoil,” he told reporters in Sangrur. “The Union government failed to foresee the seriousness of the situation arising from the Gulf conflict, leading to chaos across the country.”

Mr Mann also said that the BJP leaders were out of touch with reality and were merely repeating instructions given by the party’s central leadership. He said that he had recently raised the issue of DAP supply with the Union Agriculture Minister and was assured that Punjab’s requirements would be fully met.