Rabi sowing season: DAP shortage threatens crop yields

Business Recorder reported on Nov. 6 that delays affecting imported DAP shipments at Karachi Port are constraining supplies as Pakistan enters the 2026-27 Rabi sowing period. Farmers in parts of Punjab and Sindh are already facing shortages of the fertiliser, which is applied early in wheat cultivation.

Agriculture experts cited in the report warn that a two-to-three-week delay in phosphate application could reduce wheat output by 20 to 25 percent. Dealers are rationing available stocks, while some inland markets have seen panic buying and prices above the official rate per bag.

The report also says flour is selling for Rs150 to Rs180 per kg in major cities, and a smaller 2027 wheat harvest could increase reliance on costly imports and push retail flour prices above Rs200 per kilogram. Industry representatives have urged ministries and port authorities to speed up vessel handling and clearance.