New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) The government has taken various measures to ensure that adequate availability of fertilisers are available to farmers and there has been no shortage of urea and DAP during the last three years and the ongoing Kharif 2026 season, the Parliament was informed on Friday. Before the commencement of each cropping season, the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with all the state governments, assesses the state-wise and month-wise requirement of fertilisers. On the basis of requirement, the Department allocates adequate quantities of fertilisers to states by issuing a monthly supply plan and continuously monitors the availability, Minister of State for Chemicals Fertilisers, Anupriya Patel, said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha. The movement of all major subsidised fertilisers is monitored throughout the country by an online web-based monitoring system called integrated Fertiliser Management System (iFMS). 

The gap between demand and production for urea and other fertiliser is met through imports. The import for the season is also finalised well in advance to ensure timely availability. The state governments are regularly advised to coordinate with manufacturers and importers for streamlining the supplies through timely placement of indents. Regular coordination is also done with the Ministry of Railways for giving sufficient rakes, priority to fertilisers and for timely evacuation of rakes for states. The minister also said that fertilisers are being provided to farmers at subsidised prices. Under the Urea Subsidy Scheme, urea is provided to the farmers at a statutorily notified maximum retail price of 45-kg bag of urea at Rs 242 per 45-kg bag of urea (exclusive of charges towards neem coating and taxes as applicable).The difference between the delivered cost of urea at farm gate and net market realisation by the urea units is given as a subsidy to the urea manufacturer or importer by the Centre Government. Accordingly, all farmers are being supplied urea at subsidised rates. 

Besides, the government has implemented Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilisers. The volatility in international prices of key fertilisers and raw materials is considered while fixing NBS rates for P&K fertilisers so that fertilisers remain affordable to the farmers. To make DAP available at affordable price of Rs 1,350 per 50-kg bag, special provisions like Rs 3,500 per MT to cover 'Other Costs' which includes costs incurred from factory gate to farm gate, advantage or disadvantage due to increase or decrease in international prices and provision for GST component, have been extended to both imported and domestic DAP and imported TSP over and above NBS subsidy for Kharif 2026 season, to keep the prices of fertilisers stable. However, to reduce dependence on imported phosphatic fertilisers and make the country self-reliant, measures have been taken to encourage domestic production by providing a reasonable MRP, the minister said.

The government is also promoting the use of nano fertilisers through different activities such as awareness camps, webinars, field demonstrations, Kisan Sammelans and films in regional languages. Nano Fertilisers, like Nano Urea and Nano DAP, are made available at Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras (PMKSKs) by concerned companies. However, no subsidy is provided by the government for Nano Fertilisers. The minister also highlighted the steps taken to control over-pricing, black marketing and hoarding of fertilisers. Further, Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the State Governments, is regularly monitoring the enforcement action taken by State Governments against the cases of over-pricing, black-marketing and other malpractices on weekly basis, the minister added.

/IANS