**Executive Summary:**
This document is the response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 191 regarding the availability and distribution of fertilizers for the 2025 Kharif season. It outlines the steps taken by the Government of India to ensure timely and adequate fertilizer supply, details domestic production levels, and describes international procurement agreements to bridge supply gaps. The information was tabled on August 1, 2025, by Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Ensuring Fertilizer Availability and Distribution for Kharif 2025:**
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW) assesses state-wise, month-wise fertilizer requirements in consultation with State Governments before each cropping season.
* The Department of Fertilizers allocates adequate quantities of fertilizers to States based on projected requirements and monitors availability via monthly supply plans.
* The Integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (iFMS), an online web-based system, is used to monitor the movement of all major subsidized fertilizers nationwide.
* DAFW and the Department of Fertilizers conduct weekly video conferences with State Agriculture Officials to address dispatch issues and take corrective actions.
* **Domestic Fertilizer Production Levels:**
* Production figures for Urea, DAP, and NPKs are provided for the years 2020-21 through 2024-25, as well as an update up to July 30, 2025, for the 2025-26 period.
* Figures are given in LMT (Lakh Metric Tonnes)
* Production levels are as follows:
* Urea: 2020-21 (246.05), 2021-22 (250.72), 2022-23 (284.94), 2023-24 (314.09), 2024-25 (306.67), 2025-26 (92.81 up to 30.07.2025)
* DAP: 2020-21 (37.74), 2021-22 (42.22), 2022-23 (43.47), 2023-24 (42.93), 2024-25 (37.69), 2025-26 (13.56 up to 30.07.2025)
* NPKs: 2020-21 (100.54), 2021-22 (89.67), 2022-23 (100.40), 2023-24 (101.85), 2024-25 (121.05), 2025-26 (36.96 up to 30.07.2025)
* **International Procurement Agreements:**
* Urea imports are managed by three designated State Trading Enterprises (STEs): Indian Potash Ltd. (IPL), Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd. (RCF), and National Fertilizers Ltd. (NFL).
* The Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) policy is in effect for Phosphatic and Potassic (PK) fertilizers since April 1, 2010, providing a fixed subsidy based on nutrient content.
* PK fertilizers are covered under Open General Licenses (OGL), allowing companies to import based on business dynamics.
* The government facilitates Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Indian companies and international suppliers.
* LTAs are in place for annual quantities of 77.10 LMT of DAP/NPK from Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Russia and 20.25 LMT of MOP from Russia, Israel, Belarus, and Jordan.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **State Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for providing accurate fertilizer requirement assessments to DAFW and coordinating with the Department of Fertilizers for timely dispatch and availability.
* *Action Required:* Accurately assess and communicate fertilizer needs to DAFW. Participate in weekly video conferences to address and resolve any dispatch or availability issues.
* **Fertilizer Companies (Domestic and Importers):**
* *Impact:* Domestic manufacturers are responsible for maintaining and increasing production. Importers are responsible for importing fertilizers according to agreements.
* *Action Required:* Domestic manufacturers must optimize production to meet demand. Importers must adhere to LTA terms and conditions.
* **Farmers:**
* *Impact:* Timely availability of fertilizers is crucial for successful crop yields.
* *Action Required:* Farmers need to coordinate with state agriculture departments and local distributors to ensure timely access to needed fertilizers.
* **Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for assessing fertilizer requirements and coordinating with State Governments.
* *Action Required:* Accurately assess fertilizer needs. Conduct weekly video conferences with the Department of Fertilizers and State Agriculture Officials.
* **Department of Fertilizers:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for allocating adequate quantities of fertilizers to States and monitoring availability.
* *Action Required:* Allocate adequate fertilizer quantities based on DAFW assessments. Monitor fertilizer movement via the iFMS system. Participate in weekly video conferences with DAFW and State Agriculture Officials.
Key Entities Referenced
Kharif 2025 season: The agricultural season during which the policy ensures timely availability and distribution of fertilizers.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: A department involved in assessing fertilizer requirements in consultation with State Governments.
integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System: An online web-based monitoring system (iFMS) used to track the movement of subsidized fertilizers throughout the country.
Urea: A key fertilizer, the import of which is done on Government account through designated STEs.
DAP: Diammonium Phosphate, a key fertilizer for which production levels are tracked and supply gaps are bridged through international procurement agreements.
NPKS: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Sulphur, a key fertilizer for which production levels are tracked.
Nutrient Based Subsidy Policy: A policy implemented by the Government effective from 01.04.2010 for Phosphatic and Potassic (PK) Fertilizers.
Saudi Arabia: A country from which DAP/NPK fertilizers are sourced through Long-Term Agreements.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.191* TO BE ANSWERED ON: 01.08.2025
Availability and Distribution of Fertilizers
191*: SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken steps to ensure timely availability and
distribution of fertilizers during the 2025 Kharif season;
(b) if so, details thereof
(c) the details of the current domestic production level of key fertilizers such as
DAP; and
(d) whether the Government is bridging supply gaps through international
procurement agreements, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER FOR CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS AND HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the table of the House.
*******-2-
STATEMENT REFERRED TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 191* FOR
01.08.2025 REGARDING “AVAILABILITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF FERTILIZERS”
TABLED BY SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM.
(a) & (b) Yes Sir, the following steps have been taken by the Government during
ongoing Kharif-2025 season for ensuring timely and adequate availability of fertilizers
in the country:
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, 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
Monitoring System (iFMS);
iv. Regular Weekly Video Conference is conducted jointly by DA&FW and D/o
Fertilizers with State Agriculture Officials and corrective actions are taken to dispatch
fertilizers as indicated by the State Governments.
(c) The production data of all key fertilizers i.e. Urea, DAP and NPKS during the
last five years and in the current year is as under:
Production (Fig. in LMT)
Year Urea DAP NPKs
2020-21 246.05 37.74 100.54
2021-22 250.72 42.22 89.67
2022-23 284.94 43.47 100.40
2023-24 314.09 42.93 101.85
2024-25 306.67 37.69 121.05
2025-26 (Up
92.81 13.56 36.96
to 30.07.2025)
(d) In case of Urea, the imports are done on Government account through 3
designated STEs namely Indian Potash Ltd. (IPL), Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers
Ltd. (RCF) & National Fertilizers Ltd. (NFL).
Further, Government has implemented Nutrient Based Subsidy Policy w.e.f.
01.04.2010 for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) Fertilizers. Under the policy, a fixed
amount of subsidy, decided on annual/bi-annual basis, is provided on notified P&K
fertilizers depending on their nutrient content. Under NBS policy, P&K fertilizers are
covered under Open General Licenses (OGL) and companies are free to import these
fertilizers as per their business dynamics. Besides, the Government actively engages
with resource-rich countries through bilateral cooperation in order to enhance imports
of essential fertilizers and raw materials. Government facilitates signing of Long-Term-3-
Agreements (LTAs) and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Indian
companies and international suppliers, to ensure a steady and reliable supply of these
fertilizers in the country. For DAP/NPK, Fertilizer companies have Long-Term
Agreements (LTAs) for annual quantity of 77.10 LMT sourced from Saudi Arabia,
Morocco and Russia. For MOP, LTAs are in place for annual quantity of 20.25 LMT
from Russia, Israel, Belarus and Jordan.
*******