**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2215, regarding fertilizer availability in Maharashtra, focusing on the steps taken to ensure timely and adequate supply and to curb malpractices. It details actions undertaken by the government and the State of Maharashtra, with data provided in Annexures A and B. The information pertains to the period up to December 8, 2025, and covers actions from April 1, 2025, to November 28, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Fertilizer Availability and Monitoring:**
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) assesses state-wise and month-wise fertilizer requirements in consultation with State Governments before each cropping season.
* The Department of Fertilizers allocates quantities to States based on DA&FW's projections via a monthly supply plan and continuously monitors availability.
* The movement of major subsidized fertilizers is tracked through the Integrated Fertilizer Management System (iFMS).
* State Governments are advised to coordinate with manufacturers and importers to streamline supplies.
* Regular coordination meetings are held with the Ministry of Railways for prioritization and timely evacuation of fertilizer rakes.
* Information on the requirement, availability, sales, and closing stock of Urea, DAP, and NPKS in Maharashtra is in Annexure A.
* **Addressing Diversion and Black Marketing:**
* Fertilizers are declared essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and are notified under the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985.
* State Governments are empowered to take action against malpractices under the Essential Commodities Act.
* Complaints regarding malpractices are forwarded to the concerned State Government for appropriate action.
* Details on enforcement measures taken by the State Government of Maharashtra from 01.04.2025 to 28.11.2025, to curb these malpractices, are in Annexure-B.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Farmers in Maharashtra
* **Impact:** Farmers are directly affected by the availability and pricing of fertilizers.
* **Action Required:** Farmers can report any instances of diversion or black marketing to the State Government.
**Stakeholder:** State Government of Maharashtra
* **Impact:** Responsible for assessment, distribution, and enforcement of regulations related to fertilizer availability and prevention of malpractices.
* **Action Required:** State governments are expected to coordinate with fertilizer manufacturers and importers, and take action against persons involved in malpractices under the Essential Commodities Act and Fertilizer Control Order.
Key Entities Referenced
Maharashtra: Indian state where fertilizer availability is questioned.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers: The central ministry responsible for answering questions about fertilizer availability.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW): Department that assesses State-wise fertilizer requirements.
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: Act under which fertilizers are declared essential to curb black-marketing.
Fertilizer Control Order, 1985: Order used to notify fertilizers as essential commodities.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2215 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 12.12.2025
AVAILABILITY OF FERTILIZER IN MAHARASHTRA
✝2215: SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL:
SHRI BHUMARE SANDIPANRAO ASARAM:
SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE:
SMT. DELKAR KALABEN MOHANBHAI:
DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the total requirement and availability of urea, DAP and other fertilizers
in Maharashtra during the last three Kharif and Rabi seasons;
(b) whether any shortage was reported in any district of Maharashtra;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the measures being taken to ensure timely supply to
the farmers, district-wise; and
(d) whether any information has been received regarding diversion or black marketing
of fertilizers, if so, the details thereof along with the steps being taken by the
Government to stop such practices?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) to (c) The following steps are taken by the Government every season for ensuring
timely and adequate availability of fertilizers in the country, including the State of
Maharahstra:
(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.-2-
(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.
However, the assessment and 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 Urea, DAP and NPKS in Maharashtra during the last three Kharif and Rabi
seasons and in the ongoing Rabi 2025-26 season as on 08.12.2025 is placed at
Annexure - A.
(d) In order to address the issues of diversion and black-marketing, fertilizers are
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, the
details regarding enforcement measures taken by the State government of
Maharashtra, as informed by the State, from 01.04.2025 to 28.11.2025, to curb these
malpractices is placed at Annexure-B.
*******-3-
Annexure - A
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No 2215 for answering on 12.12.2025
MAHARASHTRA REQUIREMENT, AVAILABILITY & SALES OF FERTILIZERS FOR LAST 3 & CURRENT SEASON WISE
Fig . in LMT
UREA DAP MOP NPKS
S.
No
SEASONS
Requirement Availability DBT Sales Requirement Availability DBT Sales Requirement Availability DBT Sales Requirement Availability DBT Sales
RABI 2025-26 (TILL
1 3.65 7.76 3.33 1.10 2.22 1.04 0.51 0.99 0.32 4.58 11.06 4.00
08.12.25)
2 KHARIF 2025 15.52 19.11 15.72 4.60 4.66 3.10 1.20 2.39 1.59 18.00 25.29 18.79
3 RABI 2024-25 10.00 17.20 10.88 2.50 3.32 2.51 1.00 2.31 1.10 12.00 19.33 10.45
4 KHARIF 2024 13.73 21.67 15.54 5.00 4.78 3.96 1.30 2.23 1.13 18.00 24.84 18.34
5 RABI 2023-24 10.00 15.86 8.26 2.50 3.47 1.91 1.10 1.32 0.60 11.00 18.18 7.16
6 KHARIF 2023 13.74 18.84 15.22 4.50 7.19 5.46 1.90 1.42 0.82 15.50 23.79 15.88
7 RABI 2022-23 9.79 16.45 10.72 2.50 5.23 3.07 1.30 0.94 0.65 9.50 17.22 8.79
8 KHARIF 2022 15.50 19.62 13.94 5.70 4.94 4.11 3.00 1.21 0.74 14.00 16.87 11.67
Primary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Requirement
1.
Secondary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Sales
2.-4-
Annexure – B
Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No 2215 for answering on 12.12.2025
Cumulative Statement from April 25 to November 25 (as on 28.11.2025)
Action taken by the State Government of Maharashtra to check black marketing, hoarding, quality check, diversion etc from 01.04.2025 to 28.11.2025
Black Marketing Hoarding Sub Standard Diversion Total
Quality Convi
ction
No. of No. of No. of No. of
with
No. of
No. of Show licenses FIR Show licenses FIR Show licenses FIR Show licenses FIR details Show licenses FIR
States Inspections cause cancelled/ Regist cause cancelledRegist cause cancelled Regist cause cancelledRegist * cause cancelled/ Regist
/raids notice su - -ered notice / -ered notice / -ered notice / -ered notice su - -ered
issued issued issued issued issued
spended su - su - su - spended
spended spended spended
Maharashtra 44059 16 0 16 0 0 0 1155 1139 37 1 73 1 NIL 1172 1212 54