Lok Sabha Question No. 3536 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-13
Subject: Shortage of Fertilizers in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Km. Sudha R

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3536 TO BE ANSWERED

## ON: 13.03.2026

## Shortage of Fertilizers in Tamil Nadu

3536: Km. SUDHA R:

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

- (a) the cause for the acute fertilizer shortages reported in Cauvery delta districts of Tamil  Nadu  including  Trichy,  Thanjavur,  Nagapattinam  and  Mayiladuthurai,  during 2025, district-wise;
- (b) the  impact  of  these  shortages  on  farmers  in  Mayiladuthurai  Lok  Sabha Constituency of Tamil Nadu;
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government to address the crisis,  including additional allocations, distribution and monitoring to check black marketing or hoarding by private dealers; and
- (d) whether any long-term measures are planned to prevent future shortages, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS

## ( SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a) to (d) Following steps are taken by the Government every season for ensuring timely and adequate availability of all fertilizers in the country, including the State of Tamil Nadu:
- (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 by DA&FW, D/o Fertilizers allocates 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 Management System (iFMS).
- (iv) The State Governments are regularly advised to coordinate with manufacturers and importers for streamlining the supplies through timely placement of indents.
- (v) Regular coordination meetings are held with Ministry of Railways for giving sufficient rakes, priority to fertilizers and for timely evacuation of rakes for States.

In view of above, the availability of fertilizers viz. Urea, DAP, MOP and NPKS has remained adequate in the State of Tamil Nadu during Kharif 2025 and Rabi 2025-26 seasons. The information regarding requirement, availability, sales and closing stock of these fertilizers during the said seasons is as under:

| TAMIL NADU                                                                   | TAMIL NADU                                                                   | TAMIL NADU                                                                   | TAMIL NADU                                                                   | TAMIL NADU                                                                   | TAMIL NADU                                                                   | TAMIL NADU                                       |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| RABI 2025-26 (TILL 10/03/26) FERTILIZER POSITION                             | RABI 2025-26 (TILL 10/03/26) FERTILIZER POSITION                             | RABI 2025-26 (TILL 10/03/26) FERTILIZER POSITION                             | RABI 2025-26 (TILL 10/03/26) FERTILIZER POSITION                             | RABI 2025-26 (TILL 10/03/26) FERTILIZER POSITION                             | RABI 2025-26 (TILL 10/03/26) FERTILIZER POSITION                             | RABI 2025-26 (TILL 10/03/26) FERTILIZER POSITION |
| S.No                                                                         | Product                                                                      | Requirement for RABI 2025-26                                                 | Pro rata Requirement From 01/10/25 to 10/03/26                               | Availability From 01/10/25 to 10/03/26                                       | Sales From 01/10/25 to 10/03/26                                              | Stock as on 10/03/26                             |
| 1                                                                            | UREA                                                                         | 6.50                                                                         | 5.96                                                                         | 7.19                                                                         | 5.78                                                                         | 1.41                                             |
| 2                                                                            | DAP                                                                          | 1.55                                                                         | 1.45                                                                         | 2.08                                                                         | 1.47                                                                         | 0.61                                             |
| 3                                                                            | MOP                                                                          | 1.80                                                                         | 1.67                                                                         | 1.35                                                                         | 0.98                                                                         | 0.37                                             |
| 4                                                                            | NPKS                                                                         | 5.14                                                                         | 4.77                                                                         | 6.49                                                                         | 4.41                                                                         | 2.08                                             |
| KHARIF 2025 FERTILIZER POSITION                                              | KHARIF 2025 FERTILIZER POSITION                                              | KHARIF 2025 FERTILIZER POSITION                                              | KHARIF 2025 FERTILIZER POSITION                                              | KHARIF 2025 FERTILIZER POSITION                                              | KHARIF 2025 FERTILIZER POSITION                                              |                                                  |
| S.No                                                                         | Product                                                                      | Requirement for KHARIF 2025                                                  | Availability                                                                 | Sales                                                                        | Stock as on 30/09/25                                                         |                                                  |
| 1                                                                            | UREA                                                                         | 4.37                                                                         | 6.07                                                                         | 5.06                                                                         | 1.01                                                                         |                                                  |
| 2                                                                            | DAP                                                                          | 1.40                                                                         | 2.01                                                                         | 1.29                                                                         | 0.72                                                                         |                                                  |
| 3                                                                            | MOP                                                                          | 0.80                                                                         | 1.34                                                                         | 0.96                                                                         | 0.38                                                                         |                                                  |
| 4                                                                            | NPKS                                                                         | 4.11                                                                         | 5.50                                                                         | 3.91                                                                         | 1.59                                                                         |                                                  |
| 1. Primary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Requirement | 1. Primary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Requirement | 1. Primary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Requirement | 1. Primary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Requirement | 1. Primary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Requirement | 1. Primary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Requirement |                                                  |
| 2. Secondary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Sales     | 2. Secondary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Sales     | 2. Secondary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Sales     | 2. Secondary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Sales     | 2. Secondary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Sales     | 2. Secondary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Sales     |                                                  |

Further, it is also submitted that the mandate of D/o Fertilizers is to ensure adequate availability of fertilizers at State level. However, the distribution of fertilizers within the State at district level is done by the concerned State government. In this regard, the  State  govt.  of  Tamil  Nadu  has  informed  that  the  availability  of  fertilizers  in Cauvery delta districts of Tamil Nadu - including Trichy,

Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai - has remained adequate during the said season.  Any  localized or temporary  supply  fluctuations  were  promptly addressed through timely movement of stocks from nearby districts and through the utilization of available buffer stocks.

Moreover, in order to address the issues such as black-marketing and hoarding, fertilizer is 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 said malpractices, as per provisions of EC Act. Any complaints received at Department of Fertilizers  level regarding  these  malpractices  is  sent  to  concerned  State  Government  to  take appropriate  action  under  Essential  Commodities Act, 1955 and Fertilizer  Control Order,  1985.  Accordingly,  State  Government  of  Tamil  Nadu  has  informed  that, during  the  period  01.04.2025  to  06.03.2026,  14  show-cause  notices  have  been issued and 08 FIRs have been lodged to curb black-marketing of fertilizers. Besides, 06 Show-cause notices have been issued and 08 licenses have been cancelled/suspended to curb hoarding of fertilizers during the said period.

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