**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 218 regarding the shortage of chemical fertilizers, to be answered on February 13, 2026. The statement provides information on the availability, production, and supply of fertilizers, as well as government initiatives to augment production capacity and ensure adequate availability. A statement is laid on the table of the House.
**Key Points / Main Content**
*Fertilizer Availability and Supply*
* The availability of fertilizers (Urea, DAP, MOP, NPKS) has remained adequate across states, including Uttar Pradesh, during Kharif 2025 and Rabi 2025-26 seasons. State-wise details are in the Annexure.
*IFFCO Production*
* IFFCO production figures for 2023-24 and 2024-25 (in LMT) across various plants (Kandla, Kalol, Paradeep, Phulpur-I, Phulpur-II, Anola-I, and Anola-II) are provided.
* Total IFFCO fertilizer production was 88.93 LMT in 2023-24 and 93.10 LMT in 2024-25.
* IFFCO Urea production was 41,24,000 MT during April-January FY 2025-26 compared to 40,66,000 MT during the same period in FY 2024-25, indicating no shortfall.
*Government Initiatives*
* New Investment Policy (NIP) - 2012 has been implemented to facilitate fresh investment in the urea sector.
* Six new urea units have been set up under NIP-2012, including four joint venture company (JVC) units and two private company units.
* These new units have an installed capacity of 12.7 Lakh Metric Tonne per annum (LMTPA) each, adding a total of 76.2 LMTPA to urea production.
* Indigenous urea production capacity has increased from 207.54 LMTPA in 2014-15 to 283.74 LMTPA in 2023-24.
* The New Urea Policy (NUP) - 2015 aims to maximize indigenous urea production beyond RAC.
* The Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme has been implemented for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) Fertilizers.
* Guidelines have been issued to ensure reasonableness of MRP and encourage domestic production.
* Freight Subsidy on SSP has been approved since Kharif 2022.
*Steps for Ensuring Availability*
* Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) assesses state-wise fertilizer requirements before each cropping season.
* D/o Fertilizers allocates fertilizer quantities to States based on DA&FW projections.
* Movement of subsidized fertilizers is monitored through the Integrated Fertilizer Management System (iFMS).
* State Governments are advised to coordinate with manufacturers and importers.
* Distribution within states is managed by the state government.
*State-wise Data*
* Annexures provide state-wise data on the requirement, availability, and DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) sales of Urea, DAP, MOP, and NPKS fertilizers for both the ongoing Rabi 2025-26 season and the Kharif 2025 season.
**Impact Analysis**
*Farmers*
* **Impact:** Ensured adequate availability of fertilizers.
* **Action Required:** Procure fertilizers through appropriate channels and adhere to state government guidelines for distribution.
*Fertilizer Manufacturers (e.g., IFFCO) and Importers*
* **Impact:** Required to meet production targets and supply demands.
* **Action Required:** Coordinate with government agencies to streamline supplies and ensure timely placement of indents.
*State Governments*
* **Impact:** Responsible for distribution within the state and coordination with manufacturers.
* **Action Required:** Assess fertilizer requirements, coordinate with manufacturers/importers, and ensure equitable distribution at the district level.
*Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW)*
* **Impact:** Responsible for assessing state-wise and month-wise fertilizer requirements.
* **Action Required:** Consult with State Governments before the commencement of each cropping season to assesses fertilizer needs.
*Department of Fertilizers*
* **Impact:** Responsible for allocating fertilizer quantities to States by issuing monthly supply plans and continuously monitors the availability.
* **Action Required:** Based on the needs of the DA&FW, allocates fertilizer supplies to the individual states.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers: The central ministry responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies related to the chemical and fertilizer industries in India.
Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO): A major cooperative society engaged in the production and distribution of fertilizers in India.
New Urea Policy (NUP) - 2015: A government policy aimed at maximizing indigenous urea production by existing gas-based urea units.
Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme: A scheme implemented by the government to provide subsidies on phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilizers.
Uttar Pradesh: An Indian state, specifically mentioned as an area of concern regarding fertilizer availability.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 218* TO BE ANSWERED ON: 13.02.2026
Shortage of Chemical Fertilizers
†*218: SHRI VIRENDRA SINGH:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) whether agricultural activities are being affected adversely due to the shortage of
chemical fertilizers in various States of the country, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, if
so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), the most
preferred and trusted source of fertilizers by farmers is currently short in supply, if
so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any decline has been recorded in the production of fertilizers by IFFCO;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the steps being taken
by the Government to augment the production capacity; and
(e) whether the Government has prepared any special action plan to ensure timely
and adequate availability of IFFCO fertilizers to farmers as per their demand, if so,
the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER FOR CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the table of the House.
*******-2-
STATEMENT REFERRED TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 218* FOR
13.02.2026 REGARDING “SHORTAGE OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS” TABLED BY
SHRI VIRENDRA SINGH.
(a) The availability of fertilizers viz. Urea, DAP, MOP and NPKS has remained
adequate across the States, including the State of Uttar Pradesh, during the Kharif
2025 and ongoing Rabi 2025–26 season. The State-wise information regarding the
requirement, availability, and sales of these fertilizers during the said seasons is placed
at Annexure.
(b) to (d) The details of the quantity of fertilizers produced by the different plants
of IFFCO during the last two years are as under:
Sr. No. Name of the Name of the Type of Production Fig. in 'LMT'
Company Fertilizer Fertilizers 2023-24 2024-25
Manufacturing Produced
Units/Locations
1 IFFCO: Kandla DAP & 18.90 22.79
Complex
2 Indian Farmers IFFCO: Kalol Urea 6.19 6.03
3 Fertilizers Co- IFFCO: Paradeep DAP & 21.17 22.13
operative Ltd. Complex
4 (IFFCO) IFFCO: Phulpur-l Urea 7.05 7.65
5 IFFCO: Phulpur-II Urea 12.00 10.71
6 IFFCO: Anola-I Urea 12.26 11.35
7 IFFCO: Anola-II Urea 11.36 12.44
Total 88.93 93.10
As per the information received from IFFCO, 41,24,000 Metric Tons of Urea was
produced by all units of IFFCO during April–January of FY 2025–26 as compared to
40,66,000 Metric Tons produced during the corresponding period of April–January of
FY 2024-25. Therefore, no shortfall has been reported in IFFCO’s fertilizer production
and supply in comparison to the overall production/supply target of Urea assigned by
the Department of Fertilizers to IFFCO.
With regard to Urea, the Government had announced New Investment Policy (NIP) –
2012 on 2nd January, 2013 and its amendment on 7thOctober, 2014 to facilitate fresh
investment in the urea sector and to make India self-sufficient in the urea sector. Total
6 new urea units have been set up under NIP-2012 which includes 4 urea units set up
through Joint Venture Companies (JVC) of nominated PSUs and 2 urea units set up
by the private companies. The units set up through JVC are Ramagundam urea unit
of Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd (RFCL) in Telangana and 3 urea units
namely Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni of Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited
(HURL) in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar, respectively. The units set up by
private companies are Panagarh urea unit of Matix Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd.
(Matix) in West Bengal; and Gadepan-III urea unit of Chambal Fertilizers and
Chemicals Ltd. (CFCL) in Rajasthan. Each of these units has installed capacity of 12.7
Lakh Metric Tonne per annum (LMTPA). These units are highly energy efficient as
they are based on latest technology. Therefore, these units have together added urea
production capacity of 76.2 LMTPA, thereby total-3-
indigenous urea production capacity (Reassessed Capacity, RAC) has increased from
207.54 LMTPA during 2014-15 to 283.74 LMTPA during 2023-24. Further, an
exclusive policy for the revival of Talcher unit of FCIL through JVC of nominated PSUs
namely Talcher Fertilizers Limited (TFL) by setting up a new Greenfield Urea plant of
12.7 LMTPA at coal gasification route has also been approved. Recently, the Union
Cabinet has approved the proposal for setting up of a new Brownfield Ammonia-Urea
Complex of 12.7 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) annual capacity of Urea production within
the existing premises of Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL),
Namrup, Assam namely Assam Valley Fertilizer and Chemical Company Ltd.
(AVFCCL).
In addition, the Government also notified the New Urea Policy (NUP) – 2015 on
25thMay, 2015 for the existing 25 gas-based urea units with one of the objectives of
maximizing indigenous urea production beyond RAC. The NUP-2015 has led to
additional production of urea by 20-25 LMT as compared to the production during
2014-15 annually.
Above steps together have facilitated increase of Urea production from level of 225
LMT per annum during 2014-15 to a record Urea Production at 314.07 LMT during
2023-24. During 2024-25, 306.67 LMT of Urea was produced in the country.
Further, the Government has implemented Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme
w.e.f. 01.04.2010 for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) Fertilizers. Under the Scheme,
P&K fertilizers are covered under Open General License (OGL) and companies are
free to import/manufacture these fertilizers as per their business dynamics.
To increase domestic fertilizer production and make country self-reliant the following
have been taken by the measures Government:
(i) D/o Fertilizers has issued guidelines 18.01.2024 to ensure reasonableness of
MRP and encourage domestic production.
(ii) Based on the requests, the new manufacturing units or increase in manufacturing
capacity of existing units have been recognized / taken on record under the NBS
Scheme.
(iii) The number of P&K fertilizers covered under NBS policy has increased from 22
grades in 2021 to 28 grades.
(iv) Freight Subsidy on SSP, which is an indigenously manufactured fertilizer, has
been approved since Kharif, 2022 to promote SSP usage for providing
Phosphatic or 'P' nutrient to the soil.
(e) 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.-4-
(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) The State Governments are regularly advised to coordinate with
manufacturers and importers for streamlining the supplies through timely placement
of indents.
(v) The distribution of fertilizers within the State at district level is done by the
concerned State government.
Accordingly, an adequate availability of fertilizers was ensured across the States,
including the State of Uttar Pradesh, during the Kharif 2025 and the ongoing Rabi
2025–26 seasons.
*******-5-
ANNEXURE
STATE WISE REQUIREMENT, AVAILABILITY & SALES OF FERTILIZERS DURING ONGOING RABI 2025-26 (TILL 08.02.26) (Fig. in LMT)
fig. in LMT
UREA DAP MOP NPKS
S.No State Requirement Availability DBT Sales Requirement Availability DBT Sales Requirement Availability DBT Sales Requirement Availability DBT Sales
Andaman and Nicobar
1 Islands 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2 Andhra Pradesh 7.20 8.98 7.63 1.99 3.49 2.63 0.74 1.17 0.67 7.93 10.97 7.52
3 Arunachal Pradesh 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
4 Assam 1.22 1.78 1.46 0.22 0.64 0.35 0.29 0.31 0.13 0.27 0.29 0.16
5 Bihar 11.30 13.01 11.49 3.64 5.57 4.11 1.41 1.67 1.23 3.37 5.27 3.20
6 Chandigarh 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
7 Chhattisgarh 2.66 3.06 1.60 0.97 1.83 0.80 0.41 0.49 0.09 0.51 1.33 0.24
8 Dadra and Nagar Haveli 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
9 Daman and Diu 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
10 Delhi 0.12 0.11 0.09 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.00
11 Goa 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01
12 Gujarat 11.60 12.74 11.33 2.47 3.10 2.43 0.55 0.71 0.46 3.91 4.80 3.13
13 Haryana 10.23 12.21 10.59 2.61 3.21 2.42 0.21 0.32 0.11 1.03 0.50 0.23
14 Himachal Pradesh 0.30 0.51 0.34 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.24 0.22 0.13
15 Jammu and kashmir 0.33 0.73 0.37 0.16 0.34 0.14 0.04 0.12 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00
16 Jharkhand 0.94 1.36 0.91 0.25 0.55 0.39 0.02 0.04 0.01 0.25 0.43 0.20
17 Karnataka 5.46 8.17 4.99 1.52 2.93 1.64 0.71 1.38 0.69 5.29 10.95 5.48
18 Kerala 0.51 0.56 0.42 0.07 0.16 0.08 0.40 0.47 0.31 0.51 0.80 0.53
19 Lakshadweep 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
20 Madhya Pradesh 22.57 24.94 22.50 7.07 6.97 5.52 0.83 0.95 0.53 10.64 7.54 4.87
21 Maharashtra 8.58 12.61 8.57 2.08 3.88 2.02 1.12 1.50 0.69 9.57 17.64 8.26
22 Manipur 0.07 0.07 0.05 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00
23 Meghalaya 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
24 Mizoram 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
25 Nagaland 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
26 Odisha 1.16 2.28 0.96 0.52 1.19 0.43 0.17 0.36 0.10 0.57 1.41 0.39
27 Puducherry 0.06 0.06 0.05 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.04 0.05 0.03
28 Punjab 13.29 16.42 13.14 4.33 5.47 3.78 0.43 0.63 0.24 1.41 0.95 0.58
29 Rajasthan 14.14 17.81 15.95 3.24 4.32 3.56 0.09 0.14 0.08 1.43 1.70 1.12
30 Sikkim 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
31 Tamil Nadu 5.14 6.27 4.95 1.29 1.90 1.29 1.43 1.26 0.83 4.14 5.73 3.83
32 Telangana 7.66 8.86 7.92 1.21 2.31 1.83 0.48 0.84 0.31 5.11 7.68 4.77
33 Tripura 0.06 0.11 0.04 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.03 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.01
34 Uttarakhand 0.77 1.05 0.86 0.10 0.37 0.20 0.04 0.06 0.02 0.16 0.11 0.07
35 Uttar Pradesh 34.43 43.00 35.41 13.57 15.93 11.01 1.23 1.98 1.13 7.07 10.01 5.93
36 West Bengal 6.20 9.14 6.14 1.58 2.69 1.73 1.74 1.91 1.10 5.80 9.31 5.40
All India 166.02 205.88 167.82 48.97 66.96 46.44 12.43 16.39 8.80 69.33 97.75 56.09STATE WISE REQUIREMENT, AVAILABILITY & SALES OF FERTILIZERS DURING THE KHARIF 2025 (Fig in LMT)
(fig. in LMY))
UREA DAP MOP NPKS
S.No State Requirement Availability DBT Sales Requirement Availability DBT Sales Requirement Availability DBT Sales Requirement Availability DBT Sales
Andaman and Nicobar
1 Islands 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
2 Andhra Pradesh 6.22 8.71 7.50 2.60 3.43 2.56 0.70 1.33 0.87 6.30 9.35 6.45
3 Arunachal Pradesh 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
4 Assam 1.70 2.68 2.34 0.28 0.52 0.27 0.21 0.41 0.27 0.23 0.36 0.19
5 Bihar 10.32 12.47 10.74 2.20 3.62 1.91 0.50 1.09 0.40 2.50 4.74 2.31
6 Chandigarh 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
7 Chhattisgarh 7.12 7.87 7.25 3.10 2.52 2.13 0.60 0.84 0.68 1.80 2.48 2.19
8 Dadra and Nagar Haveli 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
9 Daman and Diu 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
10 Delhi 0.11 0.12 0.10 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
11 Goa 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.02 0.02
12 Gujarat 11.12 11.83 10.04 3.40 3.18 2.41 0.45 0.71 0.39 2.95 5.93 4.34
13 Haryana 10.07 13.33 11.31 2.83 3.60 2.76 0.28 0.53 0.29 0.37 0.95 0.58
14 Himachal Pradesh 0.33 0.55 0.36 0.01 0.04 0.03 0.00 0.02 0.01 0.15 0.20 0.11
15 Jammu and kashmir 0.78 1.25 0.91 0.22 0.25 0.21 0.08 0.15 0.12 0.01 0.02 0.02
16 Jharkhand 1.70 2.23 1.91 0.55 0.71 0.46 0.05 0.06 0.03 0.35 0.75 0.51
17 Karnataka 11.17 12.63 11.07 4.00 4.77 3.60 1.30 2.08 1.48 9.90 17.46 13.68
18 Kerala 0.52 0.73 0.59 0.12 0.18 0.11 0.40 0.57 0.47 0.69 0.89 0.64
19 Lakshadweep 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
20 Madhya Pradesh 17.42 21.24 18.26 7.50 7.41 5.47 0.50 0.81 0.49 5.00 8.79 6.07
21 Maharashtra 15.52 19.11 15.72 4.60 4.66 3.10 1.20 2.39 1.59 18.00 25.29 18.79
22 Manipur 0.11 0.13 0.12 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01
23 Meghalaya 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
24 Mizoram 0.07 0.10 0.09 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
25 Nagaland 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
26 Odisha 4.30 5.86 5.30 2.00 2.32 1.96 0.60 0.69 0.53 2.40 3.30 2.75
27 Puducherry 0.07 0.08 0.07 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.04 0.05 0.04
28 Punjab 14.92 19.19 15.94 2.85 3.86 2.36 0.50 0.70 0.32 0.50 1.27 0.66
29 Rajasthan 10.52 14.36 11.20 5.10 5.04 4.04 0.10 0.17 0.08 1.50 2.43 1.39
30 Sikkim 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
31 Tamil Nadu 4.37 6.07 5.06 1.40 2.01 1.29 0.80 1.33 0.96 4.11 5.50 3.91
32 Telangana 9.80 10.28 9.79 2.40 2.88 2.38 0.55 0.81 0.44 10.00 11.19 8.97
33 Tripura 0.08 0.16 0.09 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.03 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.01
34 Uttarakhand 1.00 1.35 1.16 0.15 0.38 0.23 0.02 0.07 0.02 0.15 0.13 0.09
35 Uttar Pradesh 39.92 48.93 40.24 10.00 12.45 7.70 1.25 1.64 0.65 5.00 8.36 3.64
36 West Bengal 6.10 9.18 6.00 1.60 2.46 1.28 1.00 1.59 0.81 4.10 7.58 4.13
All India 185.39 230.51 193.21 56.99 66.38 46.33 11.13 18.08 10.94 76.11 117.09 81.49