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O.I.H
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS’ WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3217
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20/03/2026
IMPACT OF REDUCTION IN WEIGHT OF UREA BAG ON AGRICULTURAL COST
3217. SHRI RAMJI LAL SUMAN:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether reduction in the weight of a urea bag from 50 kg to 40 kg and the nitrogen content
from 46 percent to 36 percent is forcing farmers to purchase additional fertilizer, thereby increasing
agricultural costs;
(b) whether the reduction in fertilizer is adversely affecting farmers' productivity; and
(c) the reasons for reduction in fertilizer, the levels at which suggestions were taken and whether
farmers were involved therein?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (c): The Government promotes Neem Coated Urea (NCU) since 2018 and the price of 45 kg
bag of NCU is Rs. 242 exclusive of 5% Neem Coating charge and 5% of Goods & Service Tax
(GST). Price of Sulphur Coated Urea (SCU) was notified by the Government on 23.01.2026 at Rs.
254 per 40 kg bag (inclusive of 18% Sulphur coating) exclusive of 5% GST.The end price of NCU
and SCU is same i.e. Rs. 266 per bag inclusive of coating and GST.
`NCU has 46% Nitrogen content whereas, SCU has 37% Nitrogen content. Indian Council of
Agricultural Research (ICAR) has informed that SCU works by slowly releasing nitrogen through its
sulphur coating, thereby reducing nutrient losses and synchronizing nitrogen availability with crop
demand, which improves fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) typically in the range of about 50–60%
compared to 30–40% for conventional urea. Due to high efficiency of SCU, itis expected to achieve
same efficacy with less urea quantity, resulting in savings in fertilizer use and overall input costs
while promoting balanced and sustainable nutrient management.
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