Lok Sabha Question No. 6038 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-04-11
Subject: Neem Coated Urea
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.   6038 TO BE ANSWERED ON : 11.04.2017

## Neem Coated Urea

## 6038  KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

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

- (a) whether Neem coated urea has helped in curbing diversion of urea up to 20 per cent which is worth Rs. 12000 crore and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  100  per  cent  Neem  coating  of  urea  has  led  to  reduction  in consumption and higher yields and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether  cut  in  prices  of  phosphatic  and  potassic  fertilizers  has  helped  in balanced use of fertilizers and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SHRI MANSUKH LAL MANDAVIYA)

(a) & (b):   Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) was entrusted to conduct a study to determine the impactof Neem Coated Urea. The interim report prepared by Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Centre  (ADRTC),  Bengaluru  has  been  submitted  by  Department  of  Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DACFW). The brief findings of the study are as follows:

- i. Improvement in soil health.
- ii. Reduction in costs with respect to plant protection chemicals·
- iii. Reduction in pest and disease attack.
- iv. An  increase  in  yield  of  paddy,  sugarcane,  Maize,  Soybean  and  Tur/Red Gram to an extent of 5.79%, 17.5%, 7.14%, 7.4% and 16.88% respectively.
- v. Diversion  of  highly  subsidized  urea  towards  non-agricultural  purposes negligible among farmers after the introduction of the mandatory policy of production and distribution of only Neem coated urea.

Moreover, the availability of Urea during 2015-16 and in the current year is more  than  the  requirement  and  sales.  Further,  some  state  governments  have reduced  their  requirement  which  was  initially  projected.  There  is  no  report  of shortages received from any of the state government. It is,  therefore,  perceived that Neem Coating of Urea has helped in curbing the diversion.

The details of consumption of urea during the last three years is as under:

| Year        | Urea        | Urea              | Urea        | Urea        |
|-------------|-------------|-------------------|-------------|-------------|
|             | Kharif      | Rabi              | Total       | Kg/Hectare  |
| 2014-15     | 141.67      | 164.63            | 306.10      | 152.53      |
| 2015-16     | 152.70      | 153.64            | 306.35      | 149.61      |
| 2016-17     | 143.64 *    | Not finalized Yet |             |             |
| * Estimated | * Estimated | * Estimated       | * Estimated | * Estimated |

The figures regarding production and yield is as under:

| Year                                          | Area (Million Hectares)                       | Production (MT)                               | Yield (Kg/Hectare)                            |
|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| 2010-11                                       | 126.67                                        | 244.49                                        | 1930                                          |
| 2011-12                                       | 124.75                                        | 259.29                                        | 2078                                          |
| 2012-13                                       | 120.78                                        | 257.13                                        | 2129                                          |
| 2013-14                                       | 125.04                                        | 265.04                                        | 2120                                          |
| 2014-15                                       | 124.30                                        | 252.02                                        | 2028                                          |
| 2015-16                                       | 123.22                                        | 251.57                                        | 2042                                          |
| 2016-17 *                                     | 126.48                                        | 271.98                                        | 2150                                          |
| * Second Advance Estimates                    | * Second Advance Estimates                    | * Second Advance Estimates                    | * Second Advance Estimates                    |
| Source: Directorate of Economics & Statistics | Source: Directorate of Economics & Statistics | Source: Directorate of Economics & Statistics | Source: Directorate of Economics & Statistics |

(c) : The  P&K  fertilizer  companies  have  reduced  the  MRP  of  MOP,  DAP  and NPK by Rs 5000/MT, Rs 2500/MT and Rs 1000/MT respectively in the month of June 2016 and again Rs 1300/MT for DAP in the month of December, 2016 and it seems that the reduction of prices of P&K fertilizers will encourage the farmers to use more P&K fertilizers which will help the balanced use of fertilizers.

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