Lok Sabha Question No. 1706 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Decrease in use of High-Analysis Fertilizers
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Adala Prabhakara Reddy, Sarmistha Sethi, M V V Satyanarayana

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1706 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2022

Decrease in use of High-Analysis Fertilizers.

## 1706 SHRI ADALA PRABHAKARA REDDY , SHRIMATI SARMISTHA SETHI SHRI MV.V SATYANARAYANA

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

- (a) whether the Government has any plan to reduce farmer's dependence on high-analysis fertilizers particularly urea, Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) and Muriate Of Potash (MOP) considering India's heavy dependency on imports, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) Government has any plans to encourage the use of biofertilizers or other  sustainable measures in place of these high-analysis fertilizers;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has taken any measures to increase production of urea and DAP in the country to reduce its reliance on imports;
- (f) the quantum of raw materials imported for the manufacturing of Urea and DAP in the country?
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not; the reasons therefor; and

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SHRI BHAGWANTKHUBA)

(a): Government of India and judicious use of fertilizers based on soil test based recommendations in conjunction with organic fertilizer and bio-fertilizers. The Government of India is implementing Soil Health Card Scheme which besides providing soil fertility status (Soil test based information on nutrient   status)   along with recommendations on appropriate dosages of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and fertility:

Government of India has taken following steps to reduce farmer's dependence on high analysis fertilizers

The Government had announced New Investment (NIP) 2012 on January, 2013 and its amendment on 7th October;, 2014 to facilitate fresh investment in the urea sector and to make India self-sufficient in the urea sector. Total 6 new urea units have been set up under NIP 2012  read with its amendment: These are Panagarh urea unit of Matix Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd. (Matix); Gadepan-III urea unit of Chambal Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd. (CFCL); Ramagundam urea unit of Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd (RFCL); and 3 urea units namely Gorakhpur; Sindri and Barauni of Hindustan Urvarak& Rasayan Limited (HURL): Each of these units have the installed urea production capacity of 12.7 Lakh Metric   Tonne per annum\_ Therefore, these units   have together added 76.2 LMT per annum in the existing indigenous urea production capacity of the country: Policy 2nd

Further, an exclusive policy has been notified on 28th April 2021 for the revival of Talcher unit of FCIL by setting up a new greenfield urea plant of 12.7 LMT per annum at coal gasification route.

The Government has notified the New Urea Policy (NUP) 2015 on 2015 with one of the objectives of   maximizing   indigenous urea production. The NUP-2015 has led to additional production from existing urea units due to which the actual production of urea has increased by 20-25 LMTPA in comparison to the actual production during 2014-15. 25th May,

Gol has also taken following steps to reduce dependence on impact with regard to mineral fertilizers:

- DoF granted permission to Madhya Bharat Agro product Limited Unit-II, Banda   Sagar, MP for   production of DAPINPK with installed capacity 1,20,000 MT per annum
- ii DoF granted permission to Pararadeep Phosphates Ltd to manufacture additional DAPINPK complex to the tune of 8 LMT per annum utilizing the 2 trains of ZACL Goa Plant:
- iii RCF, Thal has been granted permission for a new DAPINPK plant with annual capacity of 5 LMT and FACT Kochi also planned a DAPINPK plantwith annual capacity of 5.5 LMT
- V PDM or Potash has been  included under NBS scheme.
- Additional Cost on production/ imports of DAP from 25.10.2021 to 31.3.2022 within a ceiling of Rs. 8000 at no profitl no loss has been provided.
- vi: Freight Subsidy on SSP which is an indigenously manufactured fertilizers has been made applicable for Kharif and Rabi 2022.
- vii. Exploration of minerals for raw materials for DAP & other fertilizers in India, in consultation with Ministry of Mines, GSI , MECL, FAGMIL and concerned State Governments is a continuous process.

(b) & (c): T 0 promote use of organic and bio-fertilizer, Government is implementing Paramparagt KrishiV ikash   Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North eastern Region (MOVCDNER) Scheme since 201516.Under PKVY Rs. 31,000/ha/3 years is provided to the farmers directly though DBT, for inputs (bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, vermin-compost, botanical extracts etc): whereas, under MOVCDNER assistance of Rs. 32500 hal 3 years for both onfarm & off-farm organic inputs including organic and bio-fertilizers

Two Central Public Sector Undertakings(CPSUs) namely National Fertilizers Limited(NFL) and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers   Limited(RCF) have also signed MoUs with IFFCO for transfer to technology of Nano Urea with a view to set up 8 more nano urea plants(with production capacity of 44 Crore bottles per day) in the country:

(d) & (e): RCF in Joint  Venture Coal  India Limited, GAIL India Limited and Fertilizer Corporation Limited (FCIL) is setting up 12.70 lakh MT Urea manufacturing plant based on Coal Gasification route at Talcher, Angul district; Odisha. The plant is expected to be commissioned by September 2024.

RCF is also exploring possibility of setting up NPK Fertilizers plant at its Thal Unit; Raigad District; Maharashtra:

Table showing Import of DAP for the last three years is under:

|          |         | (Figures in Lakh MT)   | (Figures in Lakh MT)   | (Figures in Lakh MT)   |
|----------|---------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
| Year     | 2019-20 | 2020-21                | 2021-22                | 2022-23 till Nov.      |
| Quantity | 48.70   | 48.82                  |                        | 47.81                  |

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