Lok Sabha Question No. 4762 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-28
Subject: Shortfall in Supply of Fertilizers
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri Kuldeep Indora

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4762 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 28.03.2025

## Shortfall in Supply of Fertilizers

## 4762:   SHRI KULDEEP INDORA:

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

- (a) whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to recent reports indicating  that  several  States  have  experienced  a  severe  shortfall  in  the supply of fertilizers; and
- (b) if  so,  the  measures  being  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  to  ensure  that  the fertilizers  are  easily  available  to  farmers  and  they  do  not  have  to  pay exorbitant prices in the black market?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS

## (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

- (a) & (b):  The availability of fertilizers has remained adequate in the country during the ongoing Rabi 2024-25 season. The information regarding requirement, availability,  sales  and  closing  stock  of  fertilizers  across  the  States  during  the ongoing  Rabi  2024-25  season  (From  01.10.2024  to  23.03.2025)  is  placed  at Annexure.

However, the following steps are taken by the Government every season for ensuring timely and adequate availability of fertilizers in the country:

- i. 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 viz. Urea, DAP, MOP and NPKS.
- ii. The requirement is assessed taking into account the projected gross cropped area,  irrigated  area,  last  three  seasons'  consumption  pattern  and  crop  wise recommended dose of fertilizers as per soil health fertility status etc.
- iii. On  the  basis  of  requirement  projected,  Department  of  Fertilizers  allocates adequate  quantities  of  fertilizers  to  States  by  issuing  monthly  supply  plan  and continuously monitors the availability.
- v. 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 (iFMS);

v. Regular Weekly Video Conference is conducted jointly by DA&FW and D/o Fertilizers  with  State  Agriculture  Officials  and  corrective  actions  are  taken  to dispatch fertilizers as indicated by the State Governments.

Further, fertilizers are declared as an essential  commodity  under  the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and notified under Fertilizer Control Order, 1985. State  Governments  are  empowered  to  take  action  against  persons  involved  in black-marketing,  hoarding  and  smuggling  as  per  provisions  of  EC  Act.  Any complaint received at Department of Fertilizers level regarding black marketing of fertilizers  is sent to concerned State Government to take appropriate action under Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and Fertilizer Control Order, 1985.

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| Annexure referred to in reply to part (a ) &( b ) of ok Sabha Unstarred question No.4762 for STATE WISE FERTILIZERS POSITION DURING ONGOING RABI 2024-25 (TILL   |
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