Lok Sabha Question No. 1790 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Supply of Urea and DAP
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Dinesh Chandra Yadav, Santosh Kumar, Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1790 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 16.12.2022

Supply of urea and dap

1790:  SHRI DINESH CHANDRA YADAV:

SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR:

SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that the supply of Urea and DAP fertilizers has been reduced at the time of harvesting and only 37 per cent of Urea and 60 per cent of DAP are being supplied in the State of Bihar and if s0, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to ensure the supply of Urea, DAP and other fertilizers on time as per the demand of the State of Bihar; and
- (b) whether the said fertilizers are being black marketed due to which the farmers of the State are facing problems and if s0, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of the subsidy amount given by the Government on fertilizers during the last three years, year-wise?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA)

- (a): No sir: The availability of fertilizers is adequate in the state of Bihar:
- (b): Government of India has declared fertilizer as an essential commodity under the Essential Commodities Act; 1955 and notified Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 and Fertilizer (Movement Control) Order, 1973. State Governments have been adequately empowered to ensure selling of fertilizers at MRP besides stopping black marketinglsmuggling of fertilizers. State Governments are empowered to conduct search; make seizures and take   punitive action   against any person violating provisions of Essential Commodities Act; 1955 and Fertilizer Control Order 1985. In addition to above, necessary directions are also issued time to time to State
- (c) To ensure the timely supply of fertilizers, following steps are taken every season to ensure timely and adequate supply of fertilizers:
- Before the commencement of each cropping season; Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), in consultation with all the State Governments, assesses the state-wise & month-wise requirement of fertilizers.

- ii\_ On the basis of requirement  projected, Department of Fertilizers allocates sufficient/ adequate quantities of fertilizers to States by issuing monthly supply plan and continuously monitors the availability:
- iii . The movement of all major subsidized fertilizers is monitored throughout the country by an on-line web based monitoring system called integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (FMS);
- iv 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.
- V Regular Weekly Video Conference is conducted jointly by DA&FW and DoF with State Agriculture Officials and corrective actions are taken to dispatch fertilizer as indicated by the State Governments.
- vi. The gap between demand (requirement) and production for Urea & other fertilizer is met through imports. The import for the season is also finalised well in advance to ensure timely availability:
- (d): The expenditure incurred on the fertilizers subsidy in the last 3 years is as follows -

(Rs. in Crore)

|   S.No. | Financial Year   | Expenditure on subsidy   |
|---------|------------------|--------------------------|
|       1 | 2019-20          | 83,467.85                |
|       2 | 2020-21          | 1,31,229.50              |
|       3 | 2021-22          | 1,57,640.09              |