The state agriculture department has estimated the total consumption of DAP during the rabi at two lakh tonnes but the firm commitments received so far from the suppliers are to the tune of 1.20 lakh tonnes.

What has made the difference this year is the centre's somewhat unwise decision not to give enhanced adhoc concessions on the import of DAP. In fact some of the importers of DAP have diverted their contracted vessels on the high seas to alternative destinations so as to minimise the losses.

The state chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat is so much worked up on the issue that recently he held a meeting with the prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, urging him to intervene immediately in the matter so thatthe rabi crop could be saved.

Sources close to Shekhawat said that Vajpayee had assured him that the needful would be done. The centre's decision to allow DAP to be sold at Rs 8,300 per tonne has caused panic among the importers. ``The sale price does not suit us'' a representative of Deepak Fertilisers is reported to have told the director of agriculture, Purshottam Agarwal.

Last year there was no DAP shortage in the state with its consumption during the rabi being put at 1.50 lakh tonnes. In fact the DAP consumption had shot up by 86 per cent last year from the previous year. ``The use of DAP is on the rise in Rajasthan'' informs Agarwal.

The country's 70 per cent needs of DAP are met from the domestic production. Only 30 per cent of the requirement is imported. ``There is no urea shortage in the state'' informs the director. For the rabi urea is needed to the tune of 8 lakh tonnes.

For meeting the situation the department has chalked out a contingency plan. Under the plan the use of SSP(single-super phosphate) is being suggested as an alternative to DAP. ``We have asked all the field officers to propagate the use of SSP in place of DAP'' says Agarwal. In the overall output there would be some difference but still full damages could be avoided if SSP was used. There was no shortage of SSP in Rajasthan.

Rajasthan's main rabi crops are wheat, mustard, gram and barley. Last year the State produced 68 lakh tonnes of wheat alone. The sowing season lasts from September to November, says Agarwal.

Agarwal denied that DAP was being sold in the black market. The Department would take strict action if any trader was found to be indulging in the black-marketing.