Lok Sabha Question No. 3630 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Introduction of Urea Gold
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri Babu Singh Kushwaha

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO . 3630 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2025

## Introduction of Urea Gold

## +3630:  SHRI BABU SINGH KUSHWAHA:

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

- (a) the  reasons  behind  introduction  of  sulphur-coated  urea  (Urea  Gold)  in  the country by the Government and the specific steps being taken to overcome sulphur deficiency in soil through the said fertilizer;
- (b) the facilities likely to be provided to the farmers under the 'One Nation and One Fertilizer' scheme and the manner in which the subsidized fertilizers are likely to be made available to the farmers under the said scheme;
- (c) the  basis  for  deciding  the  colour  coding  of  different  types  of  fertilizer  bags under  the  One  Nation  One  Fertilizer  scheme  and  its  likely  impact  on  the farmers;
- (d) whether  a  subsidy  outlay  of  Rs.1451  crore  has  been  approved  by  the Government; and
- (e) If  so,  the  benefits  likely  to  be  accrued  to  the farmers from the said subsidy and the manner in which the said subsidy is likely to be disbursed?

## ANSWER

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

(a): The Sulphur Coated Urea (Urea Gold) was introduced with the objective of achieving better nitrogen use efficiency as there would be slow release of Urea to the soil due to the coating of Sulphur. It is specially beneficial in Sulphur deficient soil. Sulphur Coated Urea (Urea Gold) has 17% Sulphur and 37% Nitrogen as per FCO Specifications.

Sulphur is  a  vital  secondary  nutrient  that  supports  root  growth,  nodulation, metabolic activities  and improves crop yield, quality and stress resistance. It also enhances the Nutrient Use Efficiency of other essential plant nutrients, particularly Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P).

(b)&  (c): The  Government  of  India  vide  notification  dated  24th August  2022,has decided to implement One Nation One Fertilizers by introducing Single Brand for Fertilizers  and  Logo  under  Fertilizer  subsidy  scheme  namely  ' Pradhan  Mantri Bhartiya  Janurvarak  Pariyojna '  (PMBJP). The  objective  of  the  scheme  is  to increase the availability basket of fertilizers; takes care of dilemma among farmers in  choosing  from  plethora  of  brands  available  in  the  markets,  to  reduce  the crisscross movement and further ensure timely supply of fertilizers.

(d): Pursuant to the Budget Announcement, 2023 and on the recommendations of the  Expenditure  Finance  Committee  (EFC),  the  Government  has  approved  the Market Development Assistance (MDA)@ Rs. 1500/MT to promote organic fertilizers i.e.  Fermented Organic Manure (FOM)/ Liquid Fermented Organic Manure (LFOM)/ Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM), produced by Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) Bio-Gas plants under   GOBARdhan scheme 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.

(e): These initiatives of the Government are expected to address the imbalanced use  of  chemical  fertilizers  thereby  reducing  overuse  of  chemical  fertilizers.  The manner in which the MDA is disbursed is described below.

As  per  MDA  Guidelines  issued  on 20-09-2025,  general  payment  procedure  for claiming Market Development Assistance (MDA) from 20-09-2023 to 30-06-2024 is as under:

- i. The marketing entities of FOM/LFOM/PROM are allowed to claim MDA from DoF for the quantity sold through PoS based on the requisite information provided by them in prescribed Proforma 'B1-MDA' duly certified by the State Agriculture Department.
- ii. State Agriculture Department is required to issue Quality Certificate (Proforma 'B2-MDA').
- iii. The marketing entity is required to submit a copy of Quality Certificate issued by the Government approved laboratory/NABL accredited private laboratory duly certified in Proforma 'B-2 MDA' by State Agriculture Department along with the claim for MDA payment for that particular month.
- iv. DBT  claims  shall  be  generated  through  iFMS  portal  by  the  marketing entities. The claims will be processed in the Department of Fertilizers and the Market Development Assistance will  be  released to  the  marketing  entities. The marketing entities are required to claim MDA within two months from the month of sale of FOM/LFOM/PROM.

As  per  SOP  Guidelines  issued  on 10-11-2025,  the  procedure  for  release  of payment since July, 2024 onward is as under:

- i. 50% amount of the total  claim  of  subsidy  will  be  released  on  the  basis  of NABL Quality Certificates  &PoS  sale  details  submitted  along  with  the  Self Declaration of quantity.
- ii. Remaining  50%  of  the  total  claim  will  be  released  by  D/o  Fertilizers,  on issuance of B1 & B2 Certificates by State Agriculture Department, within 45 days from the date of first intimation/request by the claimants through e-mail.
- iii. If  B1  and  B2  certificates  not  issued  within  45  days,  the  certificates  will  be deemed to be issued and remaining 50% payment will be released by DoF.

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