Lok Sabha Question No. 4761 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: Accessibility of Essential Fertilizers
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri C N Annadurai, Shri Navaskani K

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4761 TO BE ANSWERED

## ON: 20.03.2026

## Accessibility of Essential Fertilizers

## 4761: SHRI NAVASKANI K: SHRI C N ANNADURAI:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  reviewed  the  accessibility  and  affordability  of essential fertilizers and crop nutrients in Tamil Nadu, a major agricultural State, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether adequate quantity of quality fertilizers has been supplied in time to farmers during peak seasons, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of shortfalls, if any, in release of subsidies to farmers in the said State;
- (d) whether  price  volatility  or  distribution  of  fertilizers  challenges  have  affected agricultural productivity, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken to ensure timely supply and distribution of fertilizers and nutrients minimise farmers' input costs?

## ANSWER

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

## ( SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a) to (e) Following steps are taken by the Government every season for ensuring timely and adequate availability of all fertilizers in the country, including in 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.
- (vi) The distribution of fertilizers within the State at district level is done by the concerned State government.

In view of above, it is submitted that the availability of fertilizers in the State of Tamil Nadu has  remained  adequate  during  the  ongoing  Rabi  2025-26  season.  However,  the distribution of fertilizers within the State at district level is done by the concerned State government. Accordingly, the information regarding requirement, availability, sales and closing stock of fertilizers in the State during the ongoing Rabi season i.e. from 01.10.2025 to 17.03.2026 is as under:

| FERTILIZER POSITION IN TAMIL NADU DURING RABI 2025-26 (TILL 17/03/26)        | FERTILIZER POSITION IN TAMIL NADU DURING RABI 2025-26 (TILL 17/03/26)        | FERTILIZER POSITION IN TAMIL NADU DURING RABI 2025-26 (TILL 17/03/26)        | FERTILIZER POSITION IN TAMIL NADU DURING RABI 2025-26 (TILL 17/03/26)        | FERTILIZER POSITION IN TAMIL NADU DURING RABI 2025-26 (TILL 17/03/26)        | FERTILIZER POSITION IN TAMIL NADU DURING RABI 2025-26 (TILL 17/03/26)        | FERTILIZER POSITION IN TAMIL NADU DURING RABI 2025-26 (TILL 17/03/26)        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| FIG. IN LMT                                                                  | FIG. IN LMT                                                                  | FIG. IN LMT                                                                  | FIG. IN LMT                                                                  | FIG. IN LMT                                                                  | FIG. IN LMT                                                                  | FIG. IN LMT                                                                  |
| S.No                                                                         | Product                                                                      | Requirement for RABI 2025-26                                                 | Pro rata Requirement From 01/10/25 to 17/03/26                               | Availability From 01/10/25 to 17/03/26                                       | Sales From 01/10/25 to 17/03/26                                              | Stock as on 17/03/26                                                         |
| 1                                                                            | UREA                                                                         | 6.50                                                                         | 6.14                                                                         | 7.34                                                                         | 5.98                                                                         | 1.36                                                                         |
| 2                                                                            | DAP                                                                          | 1.55                                                                         | 1.48                                                                         | 2.11                                                                         | 1.51                                                                         | 0.60                                                                         |
| 3                                                                            | MOP                                                                          | 1.80                                                                         | 1.71                                                                         | 1.36                                                                         | 1.01                                                                         | 0.35                                                                         |
| 4                                                                            | NPKS                                                                         | 5.14                                                                         | 4.90                                                                         | 6.71                                                                         | 4.55                                                                         | 2.16                                                                         |
| 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 | 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     | 2. Secondary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Sales     |

Moreover, in order to ensure availability of Urea at affordable prices, under the Urea Subsidy Scheme, it is provided to the farmers at a statutorily notified Maximum Retail Price (MRP). The MRP of 45 kg bag of urea is Rs.242 per bag (exclusive of charges towards neem coating and taxes as applicable). The difference between the delivered cost of Urea at farm gate and net market realization by the urea units is given as subsidy to the urea manufacturer/importer by the Government of India. Accordingly, all farmers are being supplied urea at the subsidized rate.

Besides,  the  Government  has  implemented  Nutrient  Based  Subsidy  (NBS) Scheme w.e.f.  01.04.2010  for  Phosphatic  and  Potassic  (P&K)  Fertilizers.  Under  NBS Scheme, MRP of P&K fertilizers are decontrolled and companies are free to fix MRP as per their business dynamics at a reasonable level which is monitored by the government. The subsidy is provided to manufacturer/imported on notified P&K fertilizers on its PoS sale  during  the  season,  depending  on  their  nutrient  content  to  ensure  availability  of fertilizers to farmers.

Further, to ensure affordability, 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 and Rabi 2025-26 seasons. NBS scheme is implemented uniformly on pan India basis including the State of Tamil Nadu.

Further,  Under  'DBT  in  Fertilizers'  system,  100%  subsidy  on  various  fertilizer grades  (except  Import  of  Urea)  is  released  to  the  fertilizer  manufacturing/  importing companies, on actual sales to the beneficiaries based on Aadhaar authentication through PoS devices installed at each retail shop. All farmers including those in Tamil Nadu are being supplied fertilizers at the subsidized rates on 'no-denial' basis. Thus, Fertilizers are made accessible and affordable to the Farmers across the Nation including the State of Tamil Nadu.

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