Lok Sabha Question No. 3290 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-08
Subject: Import and Sale of DAP
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Dr. Sambit Patra

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3290 TO BE ANSWERED ON

: 08.08.2025

Import and Sale of DAP

## 3290.  DR. SAMBIT PATRA:

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

- (a) whether the import and sale of DAP has declined during the financial year 2024-2025 as against year 2023-2024, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether China has placed export restrictions on India vis-a-vis export of DAP and other fertilizers, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the short term and long term measures undertaken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure smooth and affordable supply of DAP to the farmers of the country;
- (d) whether the Government  has  prepared  any  action plan for the introduction  of  indigenous,  innovative  fertilizer  products  to  reduce dependency on imports, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps being undertaken by the Government to promote the usage of Nano urea?

## ANSWER

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

(a): Phosphatic & Potassic (P&K) fertilizers including Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) are under Open General License (OGL). The fertilizer companies are free to import / manufacture  these  fertilizers  as  per  their  business  dynamics.  The  details  of  DAP imported and sold during 2023-24 and 2024-25 are as under:

| Year    |   PoS sale of DAP (in LMT) |   Total Import (in LMT) |
|---------|----------------------------|-------------------------|
| 2023-24 |                     109.72 |                   56.71 |
| 2024-25 |                      96.29 |                   49.72 |

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(b): In  October  2021 China  amended  its  catalogue  of  commodities  requiring mandatory additional inspection prior to export of fertilizer-related items, including DAP.

(c): Under NBS Scheme, MRP is fixed by fertilizer companies as per market dynamics at  reasonable  level  which  is  monitored  by  the  Government.  However,  to  ensure smooth and affordable supply, special provisions like Rs. 3500 per MT to cover 'Other Costs'  which  includes  costs  incurred  from  factory  gate  to  farm  gate,  advantage  / disadvantage due to increase / decrease in international prices, provision for  GST component included in the MRP and provision for reasonable return @ 4% of net MRP (MRP-GST) have been extended to both imported and domestic DAP and imported TSP over and above NBS subsidy for Kharif 2025 season.

(d): To  reduce  import  dependency  and  promote  nutrient  self-sufficiency,  India  is encouraging the development and adoption  of innovative  fertilizers  such  as  nanofertilizers  (e.g.,  nano-urea),  customized and  fortified fertilizers  (e.g.,  sulphur-coated urea, zinc-enriched DAP), biofertilizers, and slow- or controlled-release formulations. These  innovations  enhance  nutrient  use  efficiency,  reduce  application  rates,  and minimize  nutrient  losses,  thereby  decreasing  the  demand  for  imported  fertilizers. Government of India, under the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985,  has notified various Nano Nitrogen  fertilizers.  These  include  IFFCO's  Nano  Urea  Plus  containing  16% nitrogen, notified on 15 April 2024 vide Gazette Notification S.O. 1801(E); Zuari Farm Hub's Nano Urea (8%), notified on 2 March 2023 vide S.O. 1026(E); and Ray Nano & Research Centre's Nano Urea (4.4%), notified on 6 March 2023 vide S.O. 1144(Ε).

Similarly, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), through Gazette  Notifications  S.O.  1025(E)  and  S.O.  1026(E)  dated  2nd  March  2023, authorized M/s IFFCO and CIL respectively to manufacture Nano DAP. Additionally, Nano  DAP  developed  by  Zuari  Farm  Hub  Ltd.  has  also  been  notified  under  the Fertilizer  Control  Order  (FCO)  via  Gazette  Notification  S.O.  5077(E)  dated  29th November 2023, while Nano DAP developed by Natural Plant Protection Limited was similarly notified under the FCO through Gazette Notification S.O. 1785(E) dated 22nd April 2024.

(e): To promote the use of Nano Fertilizers among farmers, a number of initiatives which include awareness activities such as camps, webinars, (nukkad nataks, field demonstrations, Kisan Sammelans and screening of films in regional languages have been undertaken. Nano Fertilizers, including Nano Urea, are being made available at Pradhan  Mantri Kisan  Samridhi  Kendras  (PMKSKs)  by  the  concerned companies. Additionally, Nano Fertilizers have been included in the monthly supply plan issued regularly by the Department of Fertilizers.a

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), through the Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, has recently organized a national campaign on 'Efficient and Balanced  Use  of  Fertilizers  (including  Nano-fertilizers).'  For  facilitating  application through  foliar  application,  initiatives  such  as  the  use  of  'Kisan  Drones'  and  the distribution of battery-operated sprayers at retail points have been undertaken. Pilot training and custom hiring spraying services through Village Level Entrepreneurs are also being actively promoted.

Furthermore, the Department of Fertilizers (DoF), in collaboration with fertilizer companies, has launched a 'Maha Abhiyan' for the adoption of Nano DAP across all 15 agro-climatic zones through stakeholder consultations and field-level demonstrations. A campaign for field demonstrations and awareness on Nano Urea Plus has also been launched  across 100 districts in the country.

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