Lok Sabha Question No. 4061 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-20
Subject: Buffer Stock of Fertilizers
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: RAVINDRA BABU  PANDULA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4061 TO BE ANSWERED ON:

## Buffer Stock of Fertilizers

## 4061. DR. RAVINDRA BABU:

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

- (a) whether the Government is ensuring adequate supply of fertilizers during the peak season by creating a buffer stock of key farm nutrients like Di-ammonium  phosphate, muriate of potash and urea;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise especially in Andhra Pradesh; and
- (c) if not, the time by which such steps are likely to be taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS

## ( RAO INDERJIT SINGH )

(a) & (b):   Yes Madam. Before the commencement of each cropping season, Department of Agriculture,  Cooperation  and  Farmers  Welfare  (DAC&FW),  in  consultation  with  all  the  State Governments,  assesses  the  requirement  of  fertilizers.  After  assessment  of  requirement, DAC&FW projects month-wise requirement of fertilizers.

On the basis of Month-wise & State-wise projection given by DAC&FW, Department of Fertilizers  allocates  sufficient/  adequate  quantities  of  fertilizers  to  States  by  issuing  monthly supply plan and continuously monitors the availability through following system:

- (i) The  movement  of  all  major  subsidized  fertilizers  is  being  monitored  throughout  the country by an on-line web based monitoring system called integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (iFMS);
- (ii) The  State  Governments  are  regularly  advised  to  coordinate  with  manufacturers  and importers of fertilizers for streamlining the supplies through timely placement of indents for railway rakes through their state institutional agencies like Markfed etc.

## 20.03.2018

- (iii) Regular Weekly Video Conference is conducted jointly by Department of Agriculture & Cooperation  and  Farmers  Welfare  (DAC&FW),  Department  of  Fertilizers  (DoF),  and Ministry  of  Railways  with  State  Agriculture  Officials  and  corrective  actions  are  taken  to dispatch fertilizer as indicated by the State Governments.
- (iv) The  gap  between  demand  (requirement)  and  production  is  met  through  imports.  The import for the season is also finalised well in advance to ensure timely availability.

Further, fertilizers are made available well in advance of actual consumption by way of giving  allocation  more  than  the  requirement  for  prepositioning  of  stocks  at  various  points  of supply  chain  especially  in  the  lean  period  of  consumption.  Two  statements  indicating  the quantum  of  fertilizers  demanded  and  supplied  to  the  States  during  the  last  three  years  and estimated  of  current  year,  State-wise  are  placed  at Annexure  'A'  and  Annexure  'B' respectively.   It can be seen from the statements that there is no shortage of any fertilizers as availability was more than the sales. Thus, the availability of fertilizers is adequate in the country including Andhra Pradesh.

(c): In view of (a) & (b) above, question does not arise.

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