Lok Sabha Question No. 869 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-01
Subject: Import of Urea
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: RAHUL KASWAN, SANKAR PRASAD DATTA, S.P. MUDDAHANUMEGOWDA, SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 869 TO BE ANSWERED ON : 01.03.2016

Import of Urea

869:

SHRI RAHUL KASWAN: SHRI SANKAR PRASAD DATTA: SHRI $ P. MUDDAHANUME GOWDA: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL:

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

- (a whether a remarkable increase has been registered in import of urea into the country specially from China vis-a-vis domestic production; if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the steps taken to formulate any policy to reduce the said import as well as to ensure quality checks on imported fertilizers;
- (c whether the Government is taking any measures to increase the production manufactured organic fertilizers to reduce use of urea in the of indigenously country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b whether quality of agriculture land and crops are being affected adversely due to excess use of urea, if so, the details thereof along with the details of studies conducted by the Government in this regard, if any;
- (d) the number of urea plants functioning and closed in the country at present and the steps taken to revive the closed urea plants and boost domestic production of the urea; and
- e whether the of urea in the international market has registered a steep proposals of closed urea plants in the country? price

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATES IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS

## (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a): Urea for direct agricultural use is imported on Government account to import of urea during the last three years and current year (up to January, 2016) are as under: bridge

in LMT> <Qty

| Name of country   | 2012-13   | 2013-14   | 2014-15   | 2015-16   |
|-------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| China             | 37.67     | 29.47     | 66.34     | 42.39     |
| CIS               | 7.07      |           |           |           |
| Indonesia         | 0.63      | 1.11      |           |           |
| Iran              | 15.76     | 16.49     | 6.52      | 16.53     |
| Kuwait            |           |           |           | 0.86      |
| Lithuania         |           |           |           | 0.63      |
| Oman              | 18.90     | 23.31     | 14.63     | 19.67     |
| Russia            |           | 0.50      |           |           |
| Ukraine           |           |           |           | 1.18      |
| Vietnam           | 0.41      |           |           |           |
| Total             | 80.44     | 70.88     | 87.49     | 81.26     |

Government is  always   encouraging   production of   fertilizers in the country to achieve self-sufficiency: The Government has notified the New Investment (NIP) 2008 and 2012 on 4th September; 2008 and January, 2013 respectively and Modified New Pricing Scheme (NPS)-III on April; 2014 to facilitate extra domestic   production of urea and for fresh investment in urea  sector to reduce India's import dependency: The NIP 2012 was further amended on 7th October, 2014 Policy 2nd 2nd

Further to this Government has also notified the New Urea (NUP)-2015 for existing gas based urea manufacturing units on 25th 2015 with the twin objectives of   maximizing indigenous urea production and promoting energy efficiency in urea production while rationalizing subsidy burden on the Government Itis expected to prepare the domestic urea sector to become globally competitive in terms of energy efficiency over a period of three years. Policy May,

In  order to check the quality of imported  fertilizers, the fertilizer  inspectors of Central Fertilizer Quality Control & Training Institute (CFQC&TI) and its regional laboratories draw samples from the\_fertilizer ships arriving at Indian ports and send the   samples to are analyzed by the qualified analyst of the laboratories.

(b): The Indian Council of Agricultural Research under All India  Coordinated Research Project on Long-Term Fertilizer Experiments' has assessed the impact term use of chemical fertilizers in different soil types (fixed locations) under dominant cropping systems. The investigation over the last few decades indicated that even in NPK fertilized system, the deficiency of micro and secondary nutrients surfaced after few years affecting soil health and crop productivity. The limiting feutrients do not allow the full expression of other nutrients , thereby, lowering the fertilizer   responses and crop productivity. Highest decline in crop yield was observed in plot receiving only Urea: Only use of  organic manure along with optimal dose of NPK maintained soil health/quality with higher crop productivity. long

Besides, there is possibility of nitrate contamination in ground water above the permissible limit of 10 mg NOs-N /L due to excessive use of nitrogenous fertilizers including urea particularly in light textured soils that has consequence on humanlanimal health if used for  drinking  purpose. There is also possibility of release of NzO in the atmosphere through the process of de-nitrification of nitrogenous fertilizers, particularly, under   submerged soil condition, thereby, contributing to global warming:

(c): Government is promoting the production of organic fertilisers/manures by assistance to State Government/Government Agencies upto a maximum limit of Rs 190.00 lakh per unit and 33% of project cost maximum limited to Rs 63 lakh per unit for individuals/private agencies through NABARD as units of 3000 TPA production capacity: The Department of Fertilizer has notified a policy on promotion of compost which will   provide market development assistance in the form of fixed amount of Rs 1500 per tonne of compost for scaling up production and consumption of the product city City

- (d): At present; thirty urea plants are functional and ten urea plants are closed in the country. Government of Indian has decided to revive closed urea units of FCIL and HFCL subject to non recourse to Government funding:
- (e): Urea prices are determined by demand and supply of urea in the international market: The of urea shows a decline trend during the current year. The steep fall in the of urea in international market; if it so happens, is not likely to affect the revival prospect of closed fertiliser units, since these issues are addressed in NIP 2012 announced by the Government on January, 2013 and amended on October; 2014 by way of floor and ceiling price price 2nd 07th price.