Executive Summary:
This document addresses questions regarding the import, sale, and promotion of DiAmmonium Phosphate (DAP) and other fertilizers in India. It details import/sales data for 2023-24 and 2024-25, responses to export restrictions by China, measures to ensure affordable supply to farmers, plans to promote indigenous fertilizers, and efforts to increase Nano urea usage. The information pertains to the Kharif 2025 season and includes notifications from 2023 and 2024 regarding Nano fertilizers.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **DAP Import and Sales:**
* DAP is under Open General License (OGL), allowing fertilizer companies to freely import and manufacture.
* DAP imports and sales decreased from 2023-24 to 2024-25.
* 2023-24: Sales - 109.72 LMT, Imports - 56.71 LMT
* 2024-25: Sales - 96.29 LMT, Imports - 49.722 LMT
* **China's Export Restrictions:**
* In October 2021, China implemented additional inspection requirements for fertilizer-related exports, including DAP.
* **Ensuring Affordable DAP Supply:**
* MRP is fixed by fertilizer companies at reasonable levels under the NBS Scheme, monitored by the Government.
* Special provisions of Rs. 3500 per MT to cover Other Costs have been extended to imported and domestic DAP and imported TSP for Kharif 2025.
* Includes costs from factory gate to farm gate, price fluctuations, GST, and reasonable return on net MRP.
* **Promoting Indigenous and Innovative Fertilizers:**
* India encourages the development and adoption of innovative fertilizers like nano urea, customized and fortified fertilizers, biofertilizers, and slow/controlled-release formulations.
* Several Nano Nitrogen fertilizers have been notified under the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985:
* IFFCO's Nano Urea Plus (16% nitrogen), notified on 15 April 2024.
* Zuari Farm Hub's Nano Urea (8%), notified on 2 March 2023.
* Ray Nano Research Centre's Nano Urea (4.4%), notified on 6 March 2023.
* Nano DAP manufactured by IFFCO, CIL, Zuari Farm Hub Ltd., and Natural Plant Protection Limited have also been notified.
* **Promoting Nano Urea Usage:**
* Awareness activities are being conducted, including camps, webinars, and field demonstrations.
* Nano Fertilizers are available at Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras (PMKSKs).
* Nano Fertilizers are included in the Department of Fertilizers' monthly supply plan.
* ICAR organized a national campaign on balanced fertilizer use, including Nanofertilizers.
* Initiatives include Kisan Drones, battery-operated sprayers, and pilot training for spraying services.
* Maha Abhiyan launched for Nano DAP adoption across 15 agroclimatic zones.
* Campaign launched for Nano Urea Plus across 100 districts.
Impact Analysis
* **Farmers:**
* Impact: Farmers are affected by the availability and affordability of DAP and other fertilizers, as well as the promotion of innovative alternatives like Nano urea.
* Action Required: Farmers should participate in awareness programs, utilize available Nano Fertilizers, and adopt efficient fertilizer application methods.
* **Fertilizer Companies:**
* Impact: Fertilizer companies are responsible for importing, manufacturing, and selling fertilizers, adhering to MRP guidelines, and promoting Nano Fertilizers.
* Action Required: Companies need to comply with OGL, ensure affordable DAP supply, promote Nano Fertilizers, and participate in awareness campaigns.
* **Government (Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers):**
* Impact: The government is responsible for monitoring fertilizer availability, regulating prices, promoting indigenous production, and ensuring affordable supply to farmers.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor fertilizer markets, promote innovative fertilizer technologies, and support awareness campaigns.
Key Entities Referenced
Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP): A type of phosphatic fertilizer, the import and sale of which is discussed in the document.
Nano Urea: An innovative fertilizer product promoted by the government to reduce dependency on imports.
Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme: A scheme under which the MRP of fertilizers is fixed and monitored by the Government.
Fertilizer Control Order, 1985: Order under which the Government of India has notified various Nano Nitrogen fertilizers.
Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO): An Indian fertilizer cooperative, which manufactures Nano Urea Plus and Nano DAP
Department of Fertilizers (DoF): A department of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers involved in promoting the adoption of Nano DAP.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW): Authorized Ms IFFCO and CIL respectively to manufacture Nano DAP.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras (PMKSKs): Centers where Nano Fertilizers, including Nano Urea, are being made available.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3290 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 08.08.2025
Import and Sale of DAP
3290. DR. SAMBIT PATRA:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the import and sale of DAP has declined during the financial
year 2024-2025 as against year 2023-2024, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether China has placed export restrictions on India vis-a-vis export of
DAP and other fertilizers, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the short term and long term measures undertaken/proposed to be taken
by the Government to ensure smooth and affordable supply of DAP to
the farmers of the country;
(d) whether the Government has prepared any action plan for the
introduction of indigenous, innovative fertilizer products to reduce
dependency on imports, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps being undertaken by the Government to promote the usage of
Nano urea?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a): Phosphatic & Potassic (P&K) fertilizers including Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP)
are under Open General License (OGL). The fertilizer companies are free to import /
manufacture these fertilizers as per their business dynamics. The details of DAP
imported and sold during 2023-24 and 2024-25 are as under:
Year PoS sale of DAP (in LMT) Total Import (in LMT)
2023-24 109.72 56.71
2024-25 96.29 49.72-2-
(b): In October 2021 China amended its catalogue of commodities requiring
mandatory additional inspection prior to export of fertilizer-related items,
including DAP.
(c): Under NBS Scheme, MRP is fixed by fertilizer companies as per market dynamics
at reasonable level which is monitored by the Government. However, to ensure
smooth and affordable supply, special provisions like Rs. 3500 per MT to cover ‘Other
Costs’ which includes costs incurred from factory gate to farm gate, advantage /
disadvantage due to increase / decrease in international prices, provision for GST
component included in the MRP and provision for reasonable return @ 4% of net MRP
(MRP-GST) have been extended to both imported and domestic DAP and imported
TSP over and above NBS subsidy for Kharif 2025 season.
(d): To reduce import dependency and promote nutrient self-sufficiency, India is
encouraging the development and adoption of innovative fertilizers such as nano-
fertilizers (e.g., nano-urea), customized and fortified fertilizers (e.g., sulphur-coated
urea, zinc-enriched DAP), biofertilizers, and slow- or controlled-release formulations.
These innovations enhance nutrient use efficiency, reduce application rates, and
minimize nutrient losses, thereby decreasing the demand for imported fertilizers.
Government of India, under the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985, has notified various
Nano Nitrogen fertilizers. These include IFFCO's Nano Urea Plus containing 16%
nitrogen, notified on 15 April 2024 vide Gazette Notification S.O. 1801(E); Zuari Farm
Hub's Nano Urea (8%), notified on 2 March 2023 vide S.O. 1026(E); and Ray Nano &
Research Centre's Nano Urea (4.4%), notified on 6 March 2023 vide S.O. 1144(Ε).
Similarly, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), through
Gazette Notifications S.O. 1025(E) and S.O. 1026(E) dated 2nd March 2023,
authorized M/s IFFCO and CIL respectively to manufacture Nano DAP. Additionally,
Nano DAP developed by Zuari Farm Hub Ltd. has also been notified under the
Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) via Gazette Notification S.O. 5077(E) dated 29th
November 2023, while Nano DAP developed by Natural Plant Protection Limited was
similarly notified under the FCO through Gazette Notification S.O. 1785(E) dated 22nd
April 2024.-3-
(e): To promote the use of Nano Fertilizers among farmers, a number of initiatives
which include awareness activities such as camps, webinars, (nukkad nataks, field
demonstrations, Kisan Sammelans and screening of films in regional languages have
been undertaken. Nano Fertilizers, including Nano Urea, are being made available at
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras (PMKSKs) by the concerned companies.
Additionally, Nano Fertilizers have been included in the monthly supply plan issued
regularly by the Department of Fertilizers.a
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), through the Indian Institute
of Soil Science, Bhopal, has recently organized a national campaign on “Efficient and
Balanced Use of Fertilizers (including Nano-fertilizers).” For facilitating application
through foliar application, initiatives such as the use of ‘Kisan Drones’ and the
distribution of battery-operated sprayers at retail points have been undertaken. Pilot
training and custom hiring spraying services through Village Level Entrepreneurs are
also being actively promoted.
Furthermore, the Department of Fertilizers (DoF), in collaboration with fertilizer
companies, has launched a ‘Maha Abhiyan’ for the adoption of Nano DAP across all
15 agro-climatic zones through stakeholder consultations and field-level
demonstrations. A campaign for field demonstrations and awareness on Nano Urea
Plus has also been launched across 100 districts in the country.
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