Parliament Question: Production and distribution infrastructure of fertilizers in Maharashtra

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1133 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2026 Production and distribution infrastructure of fertilizers in Maharashtra 1133. Shri Dhananjay Bhimrao Mahadik: Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state: (a) the details of the initiatives undertaken by the Ministry to strengthen fertilizer production and distribution infrastructure in Maharashtra, specifically the number of fertilizer manufacturing units, storage facilities and distribution centres established or upgraded in the State in the last five years; (b) the measures being implemented to ensure timely availability of quality fertilizers to farmers, especially in rural and tribal areas; and (c) the plan of Government to promote balanced and sustainable fertilizer use, support local industries and reduce dependency on imported raw materials? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL) (a): There are two Urea manufacturing units of Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers (RCF), a Public Sector Undertaking, at Trombay and Thal with an annual production capacity of 3.3 LMT and 17.06 LMT respectively in the state of Maharashtra. These units contribute significantly to the fertilizer production capacity in Maharashtra. Over the last five years, RCF has modernized and strengthened infrastructure at its existing manufacturing sites through renovation, debottlenecking and technology upgrades to sustain high quality and efficient fertilizer production. RCF has installed 5th spherodizer system at its NPK plant at Trombay unit, enhancing domestic manufacturing capacity of NPK fertilizer. RCF has also commissioned a liquid Nano Urea plant of 75 KL per day capacity at its Trombay unit. Further, RCF plans new NPK fertilizer plant at Thal Unit at Raigad district of Maharashtra with a capacity of 1,200 MTPD (DAP basis). Further, there are 884 Fertilizer manufacturer license, 2440 state wholesale license and 71627 district dealer license issued as on date by the Maharashtra Government. Sufficient fertilizer storage facilities are available with wholesalers and retailer level in the state.-2- (b): Following measures are taken by the Government every season for ensuring timely and adequate supply of fertilizers across the States: 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 by DA&FW, 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 Management 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. v) The distribution of fertilizers within the State is done by the respective State Government. Further, in order to ensure the adequate availability of good quality of fertilizers to the farmers, Government of India in consultation with State Government/ UTs assess the requirement of major fertilizers, namely urea, DAP, MOP, complexes and SSP fertilizers, during the Zonal Conference organized by DA&FW before each cropping season (viz. Rabi and Kharif). At the conference, the State Governments/UTs present their projected requirements for major fertilizers. The requirement of fertilizers is assessed taking into account the projected gross cropped area, irrigated area, last three seasons’ consumption pattern and crop wise recommended dose of fertilizers as per soil Health fertility status etc. The state Government of Maharashtra has informed of the measures being taken to ensure timely supply of fertilizers to the farmers, district-wise as below:  Regular monitoring of rake movement is done for uninterrupted and equitable fertilizer distribution within state.  Regular meeting and conversation with fertilizer supplying companies and field officers are taken by the Department of Agriculture to ensure the availability of fertilizer at the district and block level as per the monthly supply plan.  Companies are instructed to supply in addition to their supply plan for particular district if the demand is very high and stock of particular grade is very low in that district or particular area.-3-  Regular communications are made with Department of Fertilizer for availability of fertilizer as per sanctioned supply plan.  Provision of buffer stock of Urea and DAP fertilizers for every kharif season to make fertilizers available in rural and tribal areas. (c) Government mandated revival of Talcher Fertilizer unit through formation of a JVC of nominated PSUs named Talcher Fertilizers Ltd. (TFL) for setting up Ammonia urea plant of 12.7 LMT per annum capacity based on coal gasification technology. On completion of the project, the production of urea in the country will increase by 12.7 LMTPA and will assist in maximizing the indigenous production of Urea and provide security in feedstock supply as a coal would be sourced domestically and providing alternate route of urea production to diversify the feedstock risk in the sector. This will also reduce the dependency on urea imports and import of natural gas leading to savings in foreign exchange and maximizing indigenous urea production. Also, under Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers, an additional subsidy of Rs. 500/MT and Rs. 300/MT is being provided for fortification of any notified P&K fertilizers with Zinc micro-nutrient & Boron micro- nutrient respectively to promote balanced nutrient management. Further, under the policy on Promotion of Organic Fertilizers, Government has approved Market Development Assistance (MDA) @ Rs.1500/MT (on sales) to CBG plants/Fertilizer Marketing Companies (FMCs) for promotion of organic carbon enhancers, viz., Fermented Organic Manure (FOM)/Liquid Fermented Organic Manure (LFOM) and organic fertilizer, viz., Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM) produced at plants under GOBARdhan initiative. These initiatives of the Government are expected to address imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers thereby reducing chemical fertilizer use. i) The Government of India promotes the balanced and judicious use of fertilizer in conjuction with organic fertilizer, biofertilizer, etc on soil test base recommendation. Government also promotes judicious use of fertilizer through Soil Health & Fertility scheme. The scheme is implemented since 2014-15 to provide Soil Health Cards (SHCs) for all farm holdings, to promote balanced and integrated nutrient management for improving productivity and soil fertility. The diagnostic soil health assessment of farmer fields is taken up periodically so as to issue SHCs at least once in 3 years. Since 2014-15, 25.79 crore Soil Health Cards have been generated/ distributed as on date across the country. Under the scheme as on date, Rs. 1970 Crore has been released so far since inception. 93781 farmer’s trainings, 6.80 lakh demonstrations, 7425 farmer’s melas/ campaigns on SHC have been organized across the country. ii) Further, the Government of India has notified alternative fertilizers namely, Organic Fertilizers, Bio-fertilizers, De-oiled cakes, Organic Carbon Enhancers and Nano Fertilizers in The Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 to-4- ensure supply and quality of such fertilizers. Organic farming is promoted through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in all the States/UTs except North Eastern States and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) in the North Eastern States. Under PKVY assistance of Rs. 31,500 per hectare in 3 years is provided for promotion of organic farming. Out of this, assistance of Rs. 15,000 per has is provided to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer for on-farm/off-farm organic inputs including organic compost. Under MOVCDNER, assistance of Rs. 46,500 per hectare in 3 years is provided for creation of Farmers Producer Organization, support to farmers for Organic inputs tec. Out of this, assistance @ Rs. 32500 per hectare is provided to farmers for off-farm/on- farm organic inputs under the scheme including Rs. 15,000 as Direct Benefit Transfer to the farmers. In addition, Centrally Sponsored Scheme Soil Health and Fertility is implemented in state of Maharashtra for improving soil fertility and balance use of fertilizers. Soil Health Cards Distributed During the Last Five Years in Maharashtra Years Soil Health Card Distributed 2021-22 2,35,600 2022-23 2,06,153 2023-24 2,40,246 2024-25 4,97,012 2025-26 7,16,353 Total 18,95,364 Under PM PRANAM scheme the State Government has organized various campaigns for education farmers about soil fertility and balance use of fertilizers. ***