Lok Sabha Question No. 1446 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-25
Subject: Smuggling of Fertilizers
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: P. KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1446

TO BE ANSWERED ON

: 25.07.2017

## SMUGGLING OF FERTILIZERS

1446. SHRI P. KUMAR:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  fertilizers  including  urea  meant  for supply to farmers, are being smuggled and sold in the market and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any action in the matter;
- (c) if  so,  the  number  of  persons  caught  during  each  of  the  last  two  years  for black marketing of fertilizer; and
- (d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  check  black-marketing  of  fertilizers meant for farmers?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

(a) & (d):   Madam, Government has declared fertilizer as an essential commodity under the Essential  Commodities Act, 1955(ECA) and notified Fertilizer  (Control) Order  (FCO),  1985  &  Fertilizer  (Movement  Control)  Order,  1973  under  the  EC Act.     State  Governments have been adequately empowered to ensure selling of fertilizers  at MRP besides stopping black marketing/smuggling of fertilizers. State Governments are empowered to conduct search, make seizures and take punitive action  against  any  person  violating  provisions  of  FCO,  1985  and  Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

During  last  two  years,  there  is  no  report  of  smuggling  from  any  State Government. Similarly, there is no report of black marketing in 2016-17, however in 2015-16,  8  cases  were  reported  by  various  State  Government  and  appropriate actions had been taken as per the extant provisions of Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

Department of Fertilizers ensures availability of all fertilizers at State level as per  requirement  projected  by  DAC&FW in consultation  with  states/  UTs for  each season and distribution within the states is the responsibility of the concerned state governments. The availability is monitored regularly at various levels and there is no shortage of any fertilizer.

Further, following steps are being taken to check black-marketing/ smuggling of fertilizers meant for farmers:

- a.  The movement of all major subsidized fertilizers  is  being  monitored throughout  the  country  by  an  on-line  web  based  monitoring  system (www.urvarak.co.in)  also  called  as  Integrated  Fertilizer  Monitoring System (iFMS);
- b.  The  State  Governments  have  been  advised  to  sensitize  the  State Institutional Agencies to coordinate with manufacturers and importers of fertilizers for streamlining the supplies;
- c.  Department of Fertilizers and Department of Agriculture & Cooperation  and  Farmers  Welfare  (DAC&FW)  are  jointly  reviewing fertilizer  availability  with  State  Agriculture  department  through  Video Conferences  every  week.  Corrective  action,  if  required,  is  taken immediately to avoid any hardship to farmers;
- d.  Fertilizer  companies  are  required  to  print  Maximum  Retail  Price (MRP) on the fertilizer bags clearly. Any sale above the printed MRP is punishable under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955;
- e.  State Governments as enforcement agencies are adequately empowered to check the irregularities.

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