Speaking to The Financial Express, Uttam Gupta, chief economist, Fertiliser Association of India, said that the industry can cope with the strike for only one more week. "Till now there hasn't been any telling impact on consumption as a substantial amount of fertiliser had been positioned at strategic locations where consumers could have easy access. However, within a few days stocks are going to run out and there would be a serious debilitating effect on the industry."

Out of the total amount of finished fertilisers which is transported within the country, more than 30 per cent is transported through roads. Even for the amount that is transported in trains, trucks form an intrinsic part of the entire operation. Loading in trains take place only after fertiliser is brought to the railway sidings by trucks. After the train reaches its destination, trucks are again required to transport the fertiliser to individual units.

Imported fertilisers and raw materials are also languishing in ports as there are no trucks to take them to the factories. According to Gupta, a total of 3 million tonne of DAP has been imported for the current year which needs to be moved from the ports to reach farmers.