Lok Sabha Question No. 2533 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-04
Subject: Fertilizer Distribution System
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2533 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 04.08.2023

## Fertilizer Distribution System

## 2533:  SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

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

- (a)        whether  the  Government  has  taken/proposed  to  take  measures  to  improve  and expand the distribution system to ensure the availability of fertilizers without any hindrances;
- (b)       if so, the details thereof;
- (c)        whether  the  Government  has  fixed  any  target  to  gradually  reduce  the  use  of chemical fertilizers in the country; and
- (d)      iIf so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS

## (SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA)

- (a)  &  (b):  Following  steps  are  taken  by  the  Government  every  season  to  meet  the adequate and timely requirement 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.
- 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 (iFMS);
- iv. The State Governments are regularly advised to coordinate with manufacturers and importers of fertilizers for streamlining the supplies.

- v. Regular Weekly Video Conference is conducted jointly by DA&FW and DoF with State Agriculture Officials and corrective actions are taken to dispatch fertilizers as indicated by the State Governments.
- vi. The  gap  between  demand  (requirement)  and  production  of  fertilizers  is  met through  imports. The import for the  season  is  also  finalized  well  in  advance  to ensure timely availability.

(c) & (d):  The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in its meeting held on 28th  June,  2023  has  approved  the  'PM  Programme  for  Restoration,  Awareness Generation,  Nourishment,  and  Amelioration  of  Mother-Earth  (PM-PRANAM)'.  The initiative aims to support the mass movement started by States/UTs to save the health of  Mother  Earth  by  promoting  sustainable  and  balanced  use  of  fertilizers,  adopting alternate fertilizers, promoting organic farming and implementing resource conservation technologies. Under the said scheme, 50% of the fertilizer subsidy saved by a State/UT in a particular financial year by way of reduction in consumption of chemical fertilizers (Urea, DAP, NPK, MOP) compared to previous 3 years' average consumption, will be passed on to that State/UT as Grant.

Further, CCEA in its meeting held on 28th June, 2023 has approved the Market Development  Assistance  (MDA)  @  Rs.  1500/MT  to  promote  organic  fertilizers,  i.e. manure produced at plants under GOBARdhan initiative covering different Biogas/CBG support schemes/programmes of stakeholder Ministries/Departments such as Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme of MoPNG, 'Waste  to  Energy'  programme  of  MNRE,  Swachh  Bharat  Mission  (Rural)  of DDWS,  etc.  with  total  outlay  of  Rs.  1451.84  Crore  (FY  2023-24  to  2025-26),  which includes a corpus of Rs. 360 crore for research gap funding, etc.

For  reducing  the  use  of  chemical  fertilizers  in  agriculture,  Government  of  India (GoI) is also promoting the balanced and judicious use of fertilizers based on soil test based recommendations in conjunction with organic fertilizer and bio-fertilizers. Further, under organic schemes of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Namami Gange, Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati (BPKP), Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North-  Eastern  Region  (MOVCDNER),  National  Project  on  Organic  Farming  (NPOF) etc.,  farmers  are  provided  assistance  for  use  of  organic  and  bio-fertilizers.  Further, National  Centre  for  Organic  Farming  (NCOF)  is  involved  in  awareness  generation  & training activities for promotion of organic farming.

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