A severe DAP fertiliser shortage is threatening the Rabi sowing season, the winter planting period for crops such as wheat, industry sources said. DAP, or Di-Ammonium Phosphate, is a phosphate fertiliser that farmers apply early in sowing. Vessels carrying imported supplies remain stuck in berth queues and at the outer anchorage at Karachi Port, and agriculture experts fear the delay could lower yields of the 2026-27 wheat crop.
Industry sources blamed the congestion on logistical bottlenecks, delays in customs clearance and crowded bulk cargo terminals. Port authorities and terminal operators are working to speed up the handling of incoming fertiliser shipments, but distribution from the port to inland markets remains tightly limited. Field reports say key farming belts in Punjab and Sindh are already facing supply bottlenecks.
Why the timing matters for wheat
DAP helps build root strength in wheat plants, and the optimal sowing window runs from October to November. Experts warn that even a two-to-three-week delay in applying phosphate fertilisers can permanently stunt crop development, reducing overall wheat output by up to 20 to 25 percent.
Dealers in inland hubs have begun rationing stock, which has triggered panic buying and prices above the official rate per bag. A sector representative warned that if farmers sow without enough DAP, whether because of port delays or black-market prices, yield per acre could drop sharply at harvest in early 2027.
Flour prices and calls for action
Wheat flour already sells between Rs 150 and Rs 180 per kg in major urban centres. Industry sources warned that a poor 2027 harvest would force the government to rely heavily on expensive foreign imports, which could push retail flour prices past Rs 200 per kg.
Agriculture sector representatives have asked the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the Ministry of National Food Security and port authorities to declare an emergency clearance protocol for all fertiliser-carrying vessels at Karachi Port and Port Qasim. They want priority offloading berths, faster customs processing and dedicated freight transit to stop a local port delay from becoming a wider food crisis. What happens next will depend on how quickly ships are unloaded and fertiliser reaches farmers before the sowing window closes.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Karachi Port par DAP khad ki khep phansi hui hai, aur is se Rabi ki fasal ki bawai khatre mein hai. Agar kisan ko phosphate khad waqt par nahi mili to gandum ki paidawar 20 se 25 feesad tak kam ho sakti hai, aisa maahireen ka kehna hai. Dukandaron ke pass stock kam hai aur kai jagah qeemat sarkari rate se zyada hai. Agar gandum ki fasal kam hui to aate ki qeemat Rs 200 fi kilo se upar ja sakti hai.
