**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1077, addressed on July 25, 2025, regarding the distribution of non-subsidy items (zinc, sulphur, nano urea, and zyme) alongside Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) and urea to farmers in Bihar over the preceding three years.
The Ministry, represented by the Minister of State Smt. Anupriya Patel, stated that the Department of Fertilizers does not encourage the practice of linking or tagging other products with fertilizers. Directions have been issued to fertilizer companies to refrain from such practices. State Governments have also been advised to take strict action under the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) 1985 to prevent tagging.
According to information received from the State Government of Bihar, no cases of farmers being compelled to purchase non-subsidy items or instances of tagging have been reported. Therefore, no profit earned by the government from non-subsidy items in Bihar during the last three years can be reported.
Key Entities Referenced
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for the chemical and fertilizer industries.
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS: A department under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India.
SHRI SUDHAKAR SINGH: Member of LOK SABHA who asked the question.
Diammonium Phosphate DAP: A widely used phosphatic fertilizer.
Bihar: A state in India where the distribution of nonsubsidy items is being investigated.
SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers who provided the answer.
Fertilizer Control Order FCO 1985: An order by the Government of India to regulate the trade, price and quality of fertilizers.
nano urea: A type of fertilizer.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1077 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 25.07.2025
DISTRIBUTION OF NON-SUBSIDY ITEMS
1077:SHRI SUDHAKAR SINGH:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) the quantum of non-subsidy items such as zinc, sulphur, nano urea and zyme
distributed along with Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) and urea to farmers in
Bihar during the last three years;
(b) whether farmers were compelled to purchase such non-subsidy items even when
not required, if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the amount of profit earned by the Government from non-subsidy items during
the last three years, State-wise?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) to (c) Tagging/linking of other products with fertilizers is not encouraged by
Department of Fertilizers. Accordingly, suitable directions are issued to fertilizer
companies directing them not to indulge in such practices. Further, State Governments
are also advised to take strict action under the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) – 1985
to prevent tagging.
Further, no such case has been reported as per the information received from
the State Government of Bihar.
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