Lok Sabha Question No. 5156 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Fertilizer Availability
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5156 ANSWERED ON. 27.03.2018

## Fertilizer Availability

## 5156   SHRI  ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government has reviewed the availability of fertilizers in a high level meeting recently;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the present status of availability of fertilizers for the current rainy season in the country;
- (c) whether the Government has also decided to bring down the MRP of DAP fertilizer recently;
- (d) if  so,  whether  private  manufacturers  have  not  agreed  to  bring  down  the price   of the said fertilizers;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government in this regard; and
- (f) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government for supply of sufficient quantum of fertilizers at affordable price to the farmers in the rainy season?

## ANSWER

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

## (RAO INDERJIT SINGH )

(a) & (b): Madam, it is informed that the requirement of fertilizers is assessed by  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  and  Farmers  Welfare  (DAC&FW),  in consultation  with  all  the  State  Governments  before  the  commencement  of  each cropping  season.  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. The details of requirement, availability and sales of fertilizers during the current year 2017-18 (upto 22.03.2018) are given in the table below:

|                          |   Projected Requirement |   Availability |   Sales |
|--------------------------|-------------------------|----------------|---------|
| Urea                     |                  298.52 |         304.81 |  293.14 |
| P&K (DAP, MOP & complex) |                  229.47 |         219.71 |  199.52 |

It can be seen from the table above that the availability of fertilizers has been more than the sales.

(c) to (e): Keeping in pace with international market, Department of Fertilizers has encouraged fertilizer companies to reduce the prices of DAP during 2016-17. Accordingly, the prices of DAP was reduced by Rs. 125/- per 50 Kg bag in June, 2016.  The  prices  of  DAP  further  reduced  by  Rs.  65/-  per  50  Kg  bag  during December 2016.

(f): 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.
- (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.

Thus, with the steps as indicated above, Department of Fertilizers ensures timely supply of sufficient quantum of fertilizers at subsidized price to the farmers season-wise.

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