Executive Summary:
This document presents the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers' response to concerns about black marketing and fertilizer availability in Bihar, raised in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2275, answered on August 1, 2025. It details the measures taken to prevent black marketing, the availability of fertilizers in Bihar, and clarifies fund allocation procedures. The document also provides district-wise fertilizer stock data as of July 30, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Black Marketing Concerns:**
* No cases of black marketing have been reported in Saharsa, Gaya, and Aurangabad districts, according to the State Government of Bihar.
* **Fertilizer Availability & Distribution:**
* The Department of Fertilizers ensures adequate fertilizer availability at the state level.
* District-level distribution is managed by State Governments.
* District-wise stock of Urea, DAP, NPKS, and MOP in Bihar is detailed in the annexure.
* **Funds Sanction & Disbursement:**
* Subsidy on fertilizers is released directly to manufacturing/importing companies based on actual sales to beneficiaries via Aadhar authentication through POS devices.
* No funds are specifically sanctioned or disbursed to the State Government of Bihar for fertilizers.
* **Measures to Prevent Black Marketing:**
* Fertilizer is an essential commodity under the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985, and Fertilizer Movement Control Order, 1973.
* State Governments are empowered to prevent black marketing under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985.
* Specific steps taken by the Bihar government include:
* Raids at the district level (19 FIRs lodged, 157 licenses cancelled till July 30, 2025).
* Physical verification of fertilizer stock against PoS data.
* Verification of top 20 Urea buyers.
* Designation of rake officers for proper fertilizer movement.
* Online inspection app for monitoring dealers.
* Special inspection teams for regular monitoring.
* District-level fertilizer committees to monitor availability and distribution.
* **Government Measures for Fertilizer Availability:**
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW) assesses state-wise fertilizer requirements in consultation with State Governments.
* The Department of Fertilizers allocates quantities and issues monthly supply plans.
* The Integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (iFMS) monitors fertilizer movement.
* Weekly video conferences are conducted with State Agriculture Officials for corrective actions.
Impact Analysis:
* Farmers in Bihar
* Impact: Ensures availability of fertilizers and prevents black marketing to support agricultural activities.
* Action Required: Utilize available fertilizers efficiently and report any instances of black marketing or artificial shortages to the relevant authorities.
* State Government of Bihar
* Impact: Responsible for district-level fertilizer distribution and preventing black marketing within the state.
* Action Required: Enforce the Fertilizer Control Order, conduct inspections, take action against black marketing, and ensure fair distribution of fertilizers.
* Fertilizer Manufacturing/Importing Companies
* Impact: Receive subsidies based on actual sales to beneficiaries via Aadhar authentication.
* Action Required: Ensure compliance with the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system and maintain accurate sales records through POS devices.
* Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW)
* Impact: Responsible for assessing state-wise fertilizer requirements.
* Action Required: Accurately assess fertilizer needs in consultation with state governments and communicate these needs to the Department of Fertilizers.
* Department of Fertilizers
* Impact: Ensures adequate fertilizer availability at the state level and monitors fertilizer movement.
* Action Required: Allocate adequate fertilizer quantities to states, monitor movement through iFMS, and coordinate with state officials to address any shortages or distribution issues.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI ABHAY KUMAR SINHA: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the question about black marketing of fertilizers.
SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL: Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers who provided the answer to the question.
Bihar: State in India where concerns about black marketing and fertilizer availability were raised.
Saharsa district, Bihar: District in Bihar where concerns about black marketing were raised.
Gaya district, Bihar: District in Bihar where concerns about black marketing were raised.
Aurangabad district, Bihar: District in Bihar where concerns about black marketing were raised.
Urea: A major type of fertilizer whose stock position in Bihar is detailed in the document.
Fertilizer Control Order, 1985: Order under which State Governments are empowered to prevent black marketing of fertilizers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2275TO BE ANSWERED ON: 01.08.2025
Black Marketing of Fertilizers
2275: SHRI ABHAY KUMAR SINHA:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the black-marketing and artificial
shortage of fertilizers are raising problems for farmers in Bihar, particularly in
Saharsa, Gaya and Aurangabad districts;
(b) if so, the remedial actions and monitoring measures taken by the Government
so far in this regard;
(c) the details of stock of Urea, DAP and other major fertilizers available in Bihar
at present, district-wise;
(d) the details of funds sanctioned and disbursed to State Government of Bihar
for fertilizers by the Union Government for the financial year 2025-26 so far; and
(e) the concrete steps taken by the Government to prevent black-marketing or
ensure availability of fertilizers in ensuing Rabi and Kharif season?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) & (b) As per information received from the State Government of Bihar, no
such case has been reported in Saharsa, Gaya and Aurangabad districts of State.
(c) The mandate of Department of Fertilizers is to ensure adequate availability of
fertilizers at State level. However, distribution of fertilizers within the State at district
level is done by the State governments. Accordingly, the information received from
the State Government of Bihar regarding district-wise stock of Urea, DAP, NPKS and
MoPin the State is placedat Annexure.
(d) Under 'DBT in Fertilizers' system, 100% subsidy on various fertilizer grades is
released to the fertilizer manufacturing/ importing companies, on actual sales to-2-
the beneficiaries based on Aadhar authentication through POS devices installed at
each retail shop, and not to State Governments. Therefore, no funds are sanctioned
or disbursed specifically to the State Government of Bihar.
(e) Fertilizer is declared as an essential commodity and is notified under Fertilizer
Control Order, 1985 and Fertilizer (Movement Control) Order, 1973. State
Governments are adequately empowered under FCO to stop black marketing of
fertilizers and to take punitive action against any person / fertilizer company involved
in black marketing of fertilizers by violating the provisions of Essential Commodities
Act, 1955 and Fertilizer Control Order 1985 (FCO). Accordingly, as per information
received from the State Government of Bihar,steps taken to prevent black-marketing
of fertilizers is as below:
(i) Raids have been organized at district level. Till date 19 FIR has been lodged and
157 licenses has been cancelled in Kharif, 20225(till 30.07.25).
(ii) Physical verification of fertilizer stock as per PoS and fertilizer available in godown
has been done regularly to check any kind of malpractice.
(iii) Top-20 Urea buyer verification is done on regular basis.
(iv) Rake officers are designated for each rake point. All necessary verifications are
done by them to ensure proper movement of fertilizer from the rake point within
district.
(v) Department has developed online inspection app for regular monitoring of dealers
against black-marketing, hoarding and smuggling of fertilizer.
(vi) Special inspecting team has been formed on regular basis for regular monitoring
against black-marketing, hoarding and smuggling of fertilizer.
(vii) District level fertilizer committee has been formed under chairmanship of district
magistrate to monitor fertilizer availability, uniform distribution of fertilizer.
Further, following steps are taken by the Government before every cropping 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);-3-
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.
*******ANNEXURE
Annexure referred to in reply to part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2275 to be answered on 01.08.2025
Fertilizers Stock Position in Bihar As On 30.07.25 At District Level (Fig. in MTs)
S.No. District Urea DAP NPKS MOP
1 Araria 6,336 2,888 6,065 2,409
2 Arwal 3,529 413 1,580 104
3 Aurangabad 13,227 906 5,879 1,161
4 Banka 7,114 1,456 3,546 654
5 Begusarai 11,841 6,214 6,993 3,492
6 Bhagalpur 10,805 3,675 8,863 1,203
7 Bhojpur 19,327 2,888 11,552 1,449
8 Buxar 12,686 2,074 8,605 544
9 Darbhanga 13,397 2,364 3,316 1,102
10 Gaya 16,901 3,943 9,235 1,012
11 Gopalganj 5,586 1,044 1,832 486
12 Jamui 4,993 1,713 1,829 84
13 Jehanabad 5,724 1,012 3,619 265
14 Kaimur (Bhabua) 7,115 690 2,812 368
15 Katihar 5,300 2,931 7,850 1,511
16 Khagaria 13,491 6,634 7,204 3,561
17 Kishanganj 4,628 1,662 3,926 614
18 Lakhisarai 4,508 1,621 972 186
19 Madhepura 7,033 4,551 8,443 2,008
20 Madhubani 13,521 2,887 3,073 1,265
21 Munger 5,238 1,769 640 165
22 Muzaffarpur 16,877 4,352 9,767 4,239
23 Nalanda 13,969 2,125 10,367 631
24 Nawada 6,756 1,036 2,481 88
Pashchim
25 1,062 3,296 4,295 3,151
Champaran
26 Patna 14,680 2,510 8,637 832
27 Purbi Champaran 8,900 3,463 6,630 3,567
28 Purnia 8,384 7,750 21,196 6,387
29 Rohtas 13,391 2,708 8,275 1,167
30 Saharsa 3,890 3,113 4,189 1,958
31 Samastipur 14,099 3,747 5,587 2,604
32 Saran 11,591 1,716 4,897 1,002
33 Sheikhpura 4,299 628 1,508 53
34 Sheohar 1,807 120 354 192
35 Sitamarhi 11,246 2,064 6,440 2,129
36 Siwan 12,729 2,290 3,302 765
37 Supaul 4,281 2,474 5,280 1,754
38 Vaishali 10,664 5,031 11,049 6,336
Total 3,50,923 1,01,756 2,22,088 60,498