Parliament Question: Scheme for Timely Availability of Fertilizers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3385 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 08.08.2025 Scheme for Timely Availability of Fertilizers +3385: SHRI ANIL FIROJIYA: Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state: (a) whether any special scheme is being operated by the Government to ensure the availability of fertilizers to farmers on time and at reasonable price, if so, the details thereof; (b) whether any incentive scheme or PLI scheme has been implemented by the Government for the development for chemical and petrochemical industries, if so, the details thereof; (c) whether any regulatory guidelines have been issued by the Government for the chemical industries to ensure environmental safety; (d) whether any special initiative has been taken by the Government to promote organic and nano fertilizers and if so, the details thereof; and (e) whether any institution or scheme being operated by the Government to promote education, research and production for the pharmaceutical industry, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL) (a) Following steps are taken by the Government before every cropping 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 by DA&FW, 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. (b) The Department has implemented the following measures for development of Chemical and Petrochemical Sector: - (i) Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Regions (PCPIRs): Government of India notified the Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Region(s) (PCPIR) Policy, 2007 to attract investment and for generation of employment in the PCPIR. PCPIR promotes the Chemical and Petrochemical sectors in an integrated and environmentally friendly manner on a large scale. PCPIRs are conceptualized in cluster-based approach with common infrastructure and support services to provide a competitive environment conducive for setting up businesses. (ii) Scheme for setting up Plastic Parks: The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals implements the Scheme for Setting up of Plastic Parks. The Scheme promotes setting up of need-based Plastic Parks with requisite state-of-the-art infrastructure and enabling common facilities. The objective is to consolidate and synergize the capacities of downstream plastic processing industry to help increase investment, production and export in the sector as well as generate employment. (iii) Chemical Promotion and Development Scheme: Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals is implementing the Chemical Promotion and Development Scheme to facilitate growth and development of chemicals and petrochemicals sector by creation of knowledge products and dissemination of knowledge through various Industry promotional events. Under the scheme, Department is also conducting Farmers training programs for safe & judicious use of pesticides and Chemical Disaster training programs to impart training to Major Accident Hazard Units across the country. (c) Guidelines for ensuring environmental safety for industry including chemical units are governed by Ministry of Environment, Forest & climate Change (MoEF&CC) through following legal frameworks: i. Environmental Protection Act, 1986 ii. The Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016. iii. The Chemical Accident (Emergency, Planning Preparedness and Response) Rule 1996-3- Further, MoEF&CC has issued Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989. There are no separate guidelines issued under these Rules. However, in compliance with the directions of Hon'ble National Green Tribunal (NGT) dated 11.06.2021 in O.A. No. 60/2021, Central Pollution control Board (CPCB) and Ministry of Environment, Forests and climate change (MoEF & CC) in coordination with other concerned authorities have prepared the guidelines titled "integrated Guidance Framework for Chemicals Safety in respect of the isolated Storages and industries covered Under Manufacture, Storage and import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989.” (d) Organic farming is being 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) for the North Eastern States. Both schemes stress on end-to-end support to farmers engaged in organic farming i.e. from production to processing, certification and marketing. Primary focus of the schemes is to form organic clusters, with preference to small and marginal farmers, to create a supply chain. Both the schemes are implemented through States /UT Governments. Under PKVY, assistance of ₹ 31,500 per ha in 3 years is provided for promotion of organic farming. Out of this, assistance of ₹ 15,000 per ha is provided to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer for on- farm /off -farm organic inputs including organic compost. Financial assistance of ₹ 4,500/ha in 3 years is provided for marketing, packaging, branding, value addition etc. ₹ 3,000/ha for 3 years is provided for certification and residue analysis. Assistance is also provided @₹ 9,000/ha in 3 years for training, awareness & capacity building. Under MOVCDNER, assistance of ₹ 46,500 per ha in 3 years is provided for creation of Farmers Producer Organization, support to farmers for organic inputs etc. Out of this, assistance @ ₹ 32500 per ha is provided to farmers for off -farm /on -farm organic inputs under the scheme including ₹ 15,000 as Direct Benefit Transfer to the farmers. Financial assistance of ₹ 10000 per ha in 3 years is provided for activities of ICS management, training and certification (NPOP). Financial assistance of ₹ 4000 per ha in 3 years is provided for value chain marketing at state level. Further, pursuant to the budget announcement and recommendations of Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC), Government has approved Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme (FY 2023-24 to 2025-26) under which assistance @ ₹ 1500/MT is being provided to CBG plants/Fertilizer Marketing Companies for promotion of soil 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." The ‘Policy on Promotion of Organic Fertilizers’ and the ‘Guidelines for disbursement of Market Development Assistance’ have been issued on 20th September, 2023.-4- Year-wise sale of FOM/LFOM/PROM (in MT) and MDA released (in ₹Crore) are as under: MDA Year FOM LFOM PROM TOTAL Released (in ₹Cr.) 2023-24 27,899.62 28,159.00 0.00 56,058.62 NIL 2024-25 1,06,620.15 2,28,181.00 1,490.16 3,36,291.30 28.00 2025-26 26.91 (upto 1,18,098.90 2,59,471.98 1,402.35 3,78,973.22 05.08.2025) Total 2,52,618.66 5,15,811.98 2,892.50 7,71,323.14 54.91 Moreover, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), on June 28, 2023, approved the “PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother-Earth (PMPRANAM). The initiative aims to support the mass movement initiated by States and Union Territories (UTs) to preserve the health of Mother Earth through the promotion of sustainable and balanced fertilizer use, adoption of alternative fertilizers, promotion of organic farming, and implementation of resource conservation technologies. All States/UTs are covered under the PM-PRANAM scheme. Under the PM- PRANAM scheme, there is a provision to provide incentives to States/UTs for reduction of consumption of chemical fertilizers (Urea, DAP, NPK, MOP) in a given financial year, compared to the average consumption over the previous three years, equivalent to 50% of the fertilizer subsidy saved. Additionally, in order to promote the use of Nano Fertilizers amongst the farmers, the following steps have been taken: (i) Use of Nano Fertilizers, including Nano Urea, is promoted through different activities such as awareness camps, webinars, nukkad nataks, field demonstrations, Kisan Sammelans and films in regional languages etc. (ii) Nano Fertilizers are made available at Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras (PMKSKs) by concerned companies. (iii) Nano Fertilizers like Nano Urea and Nano DAP, has been included under monthly supply plan issued by Department of Fertilizers regularly. (vi) ICAR through Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal recently organized National Campaign on “Efficient and Balanced Use of Fertilizer (including Nano-fertilizers)”. (v) For ease in application and utilization of Nano fertilizers like Nano Urea through foliar application, initiatives such as innovative spraying options like 'Kisan Drones' and distribution of battery-operated Sprayers at retail points are undertaken. For this purpose, pilot training and custom hiring spraying services through Village Level Entrepreneurs are actively promoted.-5- (vi) DoF in collaboration with fertilizer companies has initiated a Maha Abhiyan for adoption of Nano DAP in all 15 agro-climatic zones of the country through consultations and field level demonstrations. Further, DoF in collaboration with fertilizer companies has also launched campaign for field level demonstrations and awareness programs of Nano Urea plus in 100 districts of the country. (e) The Department of Pharmaceuticals has set up seven National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPERs) as institutes of national importance, which besides imparting postgraduate and doctorate education, conduct high end research in various pharma specializations. The Department of Pharmaceuticals is also implementing the scheme for Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma MedTech Sector, with an overall financial outlay of ₹ 5,000 crores. Under the scheme, seven Centres of Excellence have been set up, one at each of the seven NIPERs, with total budgetary support to the tune of ₹ 700 crore, for creating research infrastructure and promoting R&D in identified areas. Further, the scheme also provides for financial assistance to industry, start-ups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for R&D in identified priority areas which includes development of new drugs, precision medicine, complex generics, biosimilars, medical devices antimicrobial resistance drugs, etc. The financial outlay for this component is ₹ 4,250 crores. *******