Lok Sabha Question No. 3498 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-13
Subject: Development of Indigenous Reserve of Fertilizers
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri P V Midhun Reddy

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3498 TO BE ANSWERED ON : 13.03.2026 Development of Indigenous Reserves of Fertilizers

## 3498.  SHRI P V MIDHUN REDDY:

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

- (a) the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  develop indigenous  reserves  of  potash  so  as  to  reduce  the  dependence  on imports;
- (b) the steps taken to ramp up the production of Ammonium Nitrate in order to reduce the dependence on imports;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  offer  protection  in  terms  of subsidies  or  import  barriers  in  order  to  provide  support  to  indigenous manufacturers of Ammonium Nitrate against cheap imports, particularly from Russia, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  a  blueprint  to  promote  research  and development of green fertilizers and insecticides; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a): Geological Survey of India (GSI) has accorded priority for exploration of Potash and  Glauconite  (a  potash  bearing  mineral),  identified  among  the  24  critical  and strategic minerals for India, with the objective of identifying potential mineralized zones and  augmenting  the  domestic  resource  base  over  the  years.  Aligning  with  the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), GSI took up 13 mineral exploration projects on fertilizer minerals (Potash-5 and Glauconite-8) in 2024-25 and 08 exploration projects in 2025-26. Cumulative ore resource augmented by GSI

since  MMDR Amendment Act, 2015 for  potash  is  435.7  million  tonne  and  1107.1 million tonnes for glauconite across the country at different average grades. To support the Government of India's auction regime, GSI has significantly contributed through its  exploration  outcomes.  Since  Amendments  to  the  MMDR  Acts,  2015,  GSI  has handed over 22 resource bearing G2/G3 geological reports for potash (11) and glauconite (11) and 13 Geological Memorandum for potash (8) and glauconite (5) to the  Central  Government  /  concerned  State  governments  for  consideration  in  the auctioning process.

Further,  the  Government  is  promoting  Potassium  Derived  from  Molasses (PDM) which is a by-product of sugar industry having minimum 14.5% potash and can be used by farmers in field as an alternative to MOP (Muriate of Potash with 60% potash content). Thus, PDM can reduce the dependence on imported potash. PDM was notified under Fertilizer Control Order (1985) in 2009, and in order to incentivize the use of PDM, it was inducted under Nutrient Based Subsidy scheme since Rabi, 2021. During Rabi 2025-26, Rs. 345 per tonne of subsidy has been fixed for PDM.

(b): Chemical sector is broadly de-regulated and delicensed sector. The manufacturing,  import,  export,  transportation  etc.  of  Ammonium  Nitrate  are  being regulated  by  Ammonium  Nitrate  Rules,  2012.  Petroleum  and  Explosives  Safety Organisation (PESO) issues licenses for manufacture, storage, transportation, import and export of Ammonium Nitrate under these rules. The licenses for manufacturing of Ammonium Nitrate are issued based on Industrial Licenses issued by Department of Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT).

(c): In Budget 2024-25, Basic Custom Duty (BCD) on Ammonium Nitrate has been increased  from  7.5%  to  10%  to  support  existing  and  new  capacities  in  pipeline. Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), Department of Commerce provides a level playing platform to the domestic industry against the adverse impact of the unfair trade practices viz. dumping, actionable subsidies, circumvention etc. from any exporting country by using effective Trade Remedial measures such as anti-dumping and safeguard measures.

(d)  &  (e): Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  informed  that  green fertilizers (green manures) are crops grown and incorporated into the soil to improve soil fertility and health. Leguminous green manure crops such as sunhemp, dhaincha, and cowpea can add about 20-30 kg nitrogen per hectare to the soil through biological nitrogen fixation, and their decomposing biomass helps increase soil organic carbon and microbial activity, thereby improving soil structure and water-holding capacity. In green  manuring,  fresh  green  plants  are  ploughed  into  the  soil,  whereas  brown manuring involves killing the standing cover crop and leaving the dried biomass on the soil  surface  as  mulch.  In India,  the Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR) conducts research on packages of practices, develops improved varieties of green manure  crops,  and  studies  how  to  integrate  them  effectively  in  different  cropping systems.  ICAR  also  promotes  farmer  training,  seed  production,  and  distribution  of green  manure  seeds  to  increase  adoption  and  support  sustainable  soil  fertility management.

With regard to insecticides, the Registration Committee (RC), a statutory body under section 5 of the Insecticides Act, 1968-registers pesticides for use in the country after ensuring  their  safety  and  efficacy.  In  order  to  promote  biopesticides,  simplified guidelines have  been  formulated for their  registration.  The  registration  fee  for  biopesticides has been kept minimal compared to that for chemical pesticides in order to encourage their development and use.

Further, provisional registrations for a period of two years along with permission for  commercialization are granted to facilitate the  availability and wider adoption of new  bio-pesticides, thereby promoting the use of safer and  environmentally sustainable pest management options in agriculture.

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