Lok Sabha Question No. 2055 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-02
Subject: Subsidies for Farmers in Backward Areas
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Smt. Malvika Devi

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2055 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2024 SUBSIDIES FOR FARMERS IN BACKWARD AREAS

2055:  SMT. MALVIKA DEVI:

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

- (a) the  details  of  the  schemes  and  subsidies  which  are  given  to  the  farmers  in backward areas of the country;
- (b) the  methods being used to make sure that the farmers who are illiterate  are informed well in time about the fertilizer subsidies and schemes in the country; and
- (c) the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  check  black marketing and ensure strict action is taken against people involved in black marketing of fertilizers in the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) & (b): The schemes under which subsidies are given to farmers are Indigenous P&K, Imported P&K, Indigenous Urea, and Imported Urea. Further, the Government has approved the Market Development Assistance (MDA) @ Rs. 1500/MT to promote organic fertilizers.

Under 'DBT in Fertilizers' system, 100% subsidy on various fertilizer grades is released  to  the  fertilizer  companies,  on  actual  sales  to  the  beneficiaries  based  on Aadhar authentication through POS devices installed at each retail shop. Accordingly, all farmers across the country (including farmers in backward areas) buying fertilizers from 3.33 lakh fertilizer retail shops get the benefit of subsidy. Fertilizer buyers receive SMS on aadhar linked mobile number containing amount of subsidy provided by the Government  of  India  on  each  purchase  of  subsidized  fertilizers.  A  multilingual  call centre  service  is  being  provided  under  'DBT  in  Fertilizers'  where  farmers  can  raise their queries related to 'fertilizers'.

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Department of Fertilizers (DoF), vide notification dated 24 th August, 2022, has decided to  convert the existing village, block/sub district/taluk and district level fertilizer retail shops  into  Model  Fertilizer  Retail  Shops,  namely  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Samridhi Kendra (PMKSK). More than 2.15 lakh retail fertilizer shops have been converted into PM KSK across the country. These PMKSKs act as a one-stop-shop for wide variety of needs of the farmers like provision of agri-inputs like seeds, fertilizers & pesticides; testing facilities for soil & seeds; information regarding market prices of agri-inputs & various  government  schemes;  and  ensure  regular  capacity  building  of  retailers. Moreover, the Viksit  Bharat  Sankalp  Yatra  (VBSY)  was  launched  on  November  15, 2023 to create awareness and provide the benefits of flagship government schemes, with a particular focus on the agricultural sector.

(c): Fertilizer is declared as an essential commodity and is notified under Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 and Fertilizer (Movement Control) Order, 1973. State Governments are adequately empowered under FCO to stop diversion of fertilizers for non-agriculture  purposes  and  to  take  punitive  action  against  any  person/fertilizer company  involved  in  black  marketing/smuggling/diversion  of  fertilizers  violating  the provisions  of  Essential  Commodities  Act,  1955  and  Fertilizer  Control  Order  1985 (FCO).

Any complaint received at Department of Fertilizer level regarding diversion of urea  is  sent  to  the  concerned  State  Government,  to  take  appropriate  action  under Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and Fertilizer Control Order, 1985.

In addition, the Fertilizer Flying Squad of Department of Fertilizers also carries out joint inspections along with the States and appropriate action is initiated by States from time to time against urea diversion cases.

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