Lok Sabha Question No. 734 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-07
Subject: R&D in Fertilizer Sector
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: B. SREERAMULU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.     734 TO BE ANSWERED ON : 07.02.2017

## R & D in Fertilizer Sector

## 734  SHRI  B SRIRAMULU:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that at present the expenditure on Research and Development (R&D) is less than 1 per cent of the revenues accrued to the Chemicals and Fertilizers industry;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether there is a need to increase the expenditure on Research and Development in the chemicals and fertilizers industry and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of the expenditure incurred on R&D during the last three years?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS , SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI MANSUKH. L. MANDAVIYA)

(a)  to (c) : The Chemicals & Fertilizers  Sector  is  decentralised  and  deregulated  and  the industry makes investment in the R & D as per its priorities and requirement.

For growth and development of the Chemicals & Fertilizers industry, there is a need to increase the expenditure on R & D. In this connection, an Institution namely Indian Council for Fertilizer  and  Nutrient  Research  (ICFNR)  exclusively  devoted  to  promotion  of  research  in fertilizer  sector  under  the  Department  of  Fertilizers  has  been  set  up  on  16.09.2016.    The ICFNR has a Governing Council under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister of Chemical & Fertilizers  and  an  Executive  Council  under  the  chairmanship  of  Secretary  (Fertilizers).  The terms of reference of ICFNR are as under: -

-  To undertake/promote research in the area of fertilizer manufacturing technology, use of raw material and innovation in fertilizer products through partnership ad collaboration with various research institutions, fertilizer industry and other stakeholders.
-  To  examine  and  comprehensively  deliberate  R&D  project  proposals  submitted  by various  R&D  organizations/Academic  institutions,  for  suitable  recommendations  for funding.
-  To undertake and promote research in bio fertilizer and its derivatives with appropriate coating or blending so as protect and increase soil fertility
-  To undertake and promote research in organic fertilizer and its derivatives with suitable coating or blending so as to protect and increase the soil fertility.
-  In order to create initial funding for the ICFNR and make the same operational, seed money  will  be  provided  by  Fertilizer  PSUs  to  the  tune  of  Rs.5.  crores  annually. Subsequently,  the  ICFNR  may  be  funded  by  Department  of  Fertilizers  through  Plan fund allocation.

Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals has established five Centers of Excellence (CoE) in Petrochemicals Sector, within the premises of reputed educational/research institutes,  under  the  New  Schemes  of  Petrochemicals.   The  scheme  aims  at  improving  the existing petrochemicals technology and research in the country and to promote development of new applications of polymers and plastics.  The details are as follows:

- [ ]  National Chemical Laboratory Pune, Maharashtra - CoE for Sustainable   Polymer Industry for Research Innovation & Training (CoE-SPIRIT)

- [ ]  Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, CoE for Green Transportation Network (CoE-GREET)

- [ ]  IIT Guwahati Assam - CoE for Sustainable Polymers (CoE-SusPol)

- [ ]  CIPET Bhubaneswar, Odhisa- CoE on Sustainable Green Materials (CoE- SGM)

- [ ]  IIT, Delhi - CoE for Advanced Polymeric Materials (CoE-APM).

(d): The details of the expenditure incurred on R&D during the last three years are as: -

## Department of Fertilizers

(Rs. In crores.)

|   S. No. | Financial Year   |   Actual Expenditure |
|----------|------------------|----------------------|
|        1 | 2013-14          |                 0.19 |
|        2 | 2014-15          |                 0.24 |
|        3 | 2015-16          |                 0    |

## Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals

## (Rs. In crores.)

|   S. No. | Financial Year   |   Actual Expenditure |
|----------|------------------|----------------------|
|        1 | 2013-14          |                    6 |
|        2 | 2014-15          |                    2 |
|        3 | 2015-16          |                    2 |

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