Executive Summary:
This document addresses a question raised in Lok Sabha regarding the irregular supply of fertilizers and its impact on farmers. It confirms that the availability of fertilizers has been adequate during the Kharif 2025 season. The document outlines steps taken by the government to ensure timely availability of quality fertilizers and prevent illegal activities.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Fertilizer Availability:** Availability of Urea, DAP, MoP and NPKS has been adequate during the Kharif 2025 season.
* **Fertilizer Requirement Assessment and Allocation:**
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW) assesses state-wise, month-wise fertilizer requirements in consultation with State Governments before each cropping season.
* The Department of Fertilizers allocates adequate quantities of fertilizers to States based on projected requirements by issuing monthly supply plans and continuously monitors the availability.
* **Monitoring and Distribution Systems:**
* The movement of major subsidized fertilizers is monitored via the integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (iFMS).
* Weekly Video Conferences are conducted jointly by DAFW and the Department of Fertilizers with State Agriculture Officials to address fertilizer dispatch issues.
* **Preventing Black Marketing and Hoarding:**
* Fertilizer is declared an essential commodity under the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985, and the Fertilizer Movement Control Order, 1973.
* State Governments are empowered under the FCO to prevent black marketing and hoarding and take punitive action.
* A ceiling of 50 bags of subsidized fertilizers per buyer per month (600 bags per year) is in place.
* A monthly list of the top 20 buyers in each district is available in the iFMS login of respective district magistrates for necessary action.
* **Dashboard for Easy Monitoring:**
* A dashboard (https:urvarak.nic.in) has been developed for easy monitoring by State Agriculture Departments, District Collectors, and State Marketing Federations.
* State Governments also monitor fertilizer availability and supply through iFMS and eUrvarak Dashboard portals.
Impact Analysis:
* **Farmers:**
* *Impact:* Ensures adequate and timely availability of fertilizers, potentially improving agricultural productivity. Addresses concerns about distress caused by shortages or irregular supply.
* *Action Required:* No specific action required.
* **State Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for monitoring fertilizer distribution, preventing black marketing and hoarding, and taking action against violations.
* *Action Required:* Utilize the iFMS and eUrvarak Dashboard portals to monitor fertilizer availability and supply. Take action against black marketing and hoarding as necessary.
* **Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for assessing fertilizer requirements and coordinating with State Governments.
* *Action Required:* Continue to assess state-wise and month-wise fertilizer requirements and coordinate with State Governments.
* **Department of Fertilizers:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for allocating fertilizers, monitoring their movement, and ensuring timely availability.
* *Action Required:* Continue to allocate adequate quantities of fertilizers, monitor movement through iFMS, and conduct weekly video conferences with State Agriculture Officials.
* **District Magistrates:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for taking necessary action based on the monthly list of top 20 buyers in each district, available in the iFMS login.
* *Action Required:* Review the monthly list of top 20 buyers and take necessary action to prevent misuse or illegal activities.
* **State Marketing Federations:**
* *Impact:* Involved in monitoring and distribution of fertilizers.
* *Action Required:* Utilize the dashboard to monitor fertilizer availability.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and regulation of the chemical and fertilizer industries.
Department of Fertilizers: A department within the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, specifically focused on the fertilizer sector.
SHRI CHHOTELAL: Member of LOK SABHA who raised the question about irregular supply of fertilizers.
SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN: Member of LOK SABHA who raised the question about irregular supply of fertilizers.
SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers who provided the answer to the question.
DBT in fertilizers: Direct Benefit Transfer scheme in fertilizers, an initiative to provide subsidies directly to farmers.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare DAFW: A department responsible for assessing fertilizer requirements in consultation with State Governments.
Fertilizer Control Order, 1985: A regulatory order to control the quality, distribution, and pricing of fertilizers in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2211 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 01.08.2025
Irregular Supply of Fertilizers
2211: SHRI CHHOTELAL:
SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that there is acute shortage or irregular
supply of fertilizers, especially during peak sowing seasons, causing distress to
farmers and affecting agricultural productivity across the country particularly in rural
and agricultural regions;
(b) if so, the details of the steps being taken by the Government to ensure timely
availability of quality fertilizers, prevent black marketing and hoarding and strengthen
the distribution and monitoring system through schemes like DBT in fertilizers and
others; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) The availability of fertilizers viz. Urea, DAP, MoP and NPKS has remained
adequate in the country during the ongoing Kharif 2025 season.
(b) & (c) Following steps are taken by the Government every 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.-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
Monitoring System (iFMS);
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.
Moreover, 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 and
hoarding of fertilizers and to take punitive action against any person / fertilizer
company involved in black marketing and hoarding of fertilizers by violating the
provisions of Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and Fertilizer Control Order 1985
(FCO).
However, D/o Fertilizers has put a ceiling of 50 bags of subsidized fertilizers per buyer
per month i.e. 600 bags of subsidized fertilizers per year. Additionally, a monthly list
of Top 20 buyers' of each district is made available in the iFMS log-in of respective
district magistrates for taking necessary action at their end.
Besides, D/o Fertilizers has also developed a dashboard which can be accessed by
authorized users at https://urvarak.nic.in. The dashboard is developed to facilitate
easy monitoring by various Stake holders viz. State Agriculture Departments, District
Collectors and State Marketing Federations. The State Governments are also
monitoring the availability and supply of fertilizers through iFMS and e-Urvarak
Dashboard portals.
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