Executive Summary:
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1121 regarding the supply of fertilizers in India, answered on July 25, 2025. It addresses concerns about fertilizer shortages and high prices, detailing government measures to ensure availability and fair pricing. The report includes data on fertilizer availability, actions taken against black marketing, and information on alternative fertilizers.
Key Points / Main Content:
Fertilizer Availability:
* The availability of Urea, DAP, MOP, and NPKS fertilizers has been adequate during the Kharif 2025 season.
* Data as of July 22, 2024, shows prorata availability, closing stock, and requirement for each fertilizer type.
Government Measures for Fertilizer Availability:
* The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW) assesses state-wise, month-wise fertilizer requirements in consultation with State Governments.
* The Department of Fertilizers allocates adequate quantities of fertilizers to States based on projected requirements and monitors availability.
* The Integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (iFMS), an online web-based system, monitors the movement of major subsidized fertilizers.
* Weekly video conferences are conducted by DAFW and the Department of Fertilizers with State Agriculture Officials to address fertilizer dispatch.
* State Governments perform enforcement activities to curb black marketing, hoarding, substandard quality, and diversion of fertilizers.
Alternative Fertilizers:
* The Fertilizer Control Order, 1985, specifies various fertilizers beyond conventional types, including water-soluble complex fertilizers, micronutrient fertilizers, beneficial element fertilizers, and organic fertilizers.
* Market Development Assistance (MDA) of Rs. 1500/MT is provided to CBG units to promote soil carbon enhancers and organic fertilizers produced under the GOBARdhan initiative.
* Sales data for Fermented Organic Manure (FOM), Liquified FOM (LFOM), and Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM) are provided for FY 2023-24, FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26 (up to July 21, 2025).
Action Against Illegal Activities:
* Action Taken Report from April 2025 to July 2025 indicates inspections, FIRs registered, notices issued, and licenses suspended/cancelled related to black marketing, hoarding, substandard quality, and diversion of fertilizers.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers:
Impact: Assured availability of fertilizers at fair prices, access to alternative fertilizers, protection from black marketing and hoarding.
Action Required: Report any instances of black marketing, hoarding, or substandard fertilizers to State authorities.
State Agriculture Officials:
Impact: Collaboration with central departments to assess fertilizer needs and ensure timely dispatch.
Action Required: Participate in weekly video conferences, provide accurate fertilizer requirement data, and conduct enforcement activities.
Fertilizer Manufacturers and Suppliers:
Impact: Compliance with government regulations and monitoring through iFMS.
Action Required: Ensure timely supply of fertilizers, adhere to fair pricing, and avoid black marketing or diversion.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW):
Impact: Responsible for assessing fertilizer requirements and coordinating with State Governments.
Action Required: Accurately assess fertilizer needs, collaborate with State Governments, and monitor fertilizer availability.
Department of Fertilizers:
Impact: Responsible for allocating fertilizers and monitoring their movement through iFMS.
Action Required: Allocate adequate fertilizer quantities, monitor fertilizer availability, and address any supply issues.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI KULDEEP INDORA: Member of Lok Sabha who posed the unstarred question regarding fertilizer supply.
SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL: Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Urea: A major subsidized fertilizer, the availability of which is monitored by the Government.
DAP: Diammonium Phosphate, a major subsidized fertilizer, the availability of which is monitored by the Government.
MOP: Muriate of Potash, a major subsidized fertilizer, the availability of which is monitored by the Government.
NPKS: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Sulphur, a group of major subsidized fertilizers, the availability of which is monitored by the Government.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW): The department responsible for assessing state-wise fertilizer requirements in consultation with State Governments.
integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (iFMS): An online web-based monitoring system used to track the movement of major subsidized fertilizers throughout the country.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1121TO BE ANSWERED ON: 25.07.2025
SUPPLY OF FERTILIZERS
1121: SHRI KULDEEP INDORA:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government has taken note of recent reports indicating that there is a
severe shortage in the supply of fertilizers in many States;
(b) if so, the measures being taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure
that fertilizers are easily available to farmers and they do not have to pay exorbitant
prices in the black market; and
(c) whether any better fertilizers other then Nano fertilizers are being provided to
farmers, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) The availability of fertilizers i.e. Urea, DAP, MOP and NPKS has remained
adequate in the country during the ongoing Kharif 2025 season as shown in the table
below:
POSTIION OF FERTILIZERS IN INDIA (as on 22.07.2024)
PRODUCT GROUP PRO-RATA AVAILABILITY CLOSING STOCK
REQUIREMENT
UREA 108.30 152.38 45.30
DAP 35.87 36.70 13.18
MOP 6.57 12.93 6.69
NPKS 44.14 81.90 36.82
(b) 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 fertilizersviz. Urea, DAP, MOP
and NPKS.-2-
ii. On the basis of requirement projected, Department of 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
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.
Besides, State Governments regularly performs enforcement activities to curb black
marketing, hoarding, sub standard and diversion of fertilizers so that farmers do not
have to pay exorbitant prices. The Action Taken Report from April 2025 to July 2025
is placed at Annexure.
(c) In Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 other than conventional fertilizers namely Urea,
DAP, MOP, Complex fertilizer NP, NPK, phosphatic fertilizer such as SSP, TSP,
water soluble complex fertilizer, micro-nutrient fertilizer, beneficial element fertilizer,
organic fertilizer, Sulphur based fertilizer, bio-fertilizer have been specified after
evaluating their agronomic efficiency.
Further, Market Development Assistance (MDA) @ Rs. 1500/MT is given to CBG
units to promote Soil Carbon enhancers viz., Fermented Organic Manure
(FOM)/Liquified FOM and organic fertilizers viz., Phosphate Rich Organic manure
(PROM) produced at CBG plants under GOBARdhan initiative.
These initiatives of the Government are expected to address the imbalanced use
of chemical fertilizers thereby reducing overuse of chemical fertilizers. Year-wise
sales of FOM/LFOM/PROM as on 21.07.2025 is as under:
FOM LFOM PROM TOTAL
Sales during 27,899.62 28,159.00 0.00 56,058.62
FY 2023-24
Sales during 1,06,620.15 2,28,181.00 1,490.16 3,36,291.30
FY 2024-25
Sales during 1,06,916.92 2,21,169.00 1,133.84 3,29,219.76
FY 2025-26
(upto 21-07-
2025)
TOTAL 2,41,436.69 4,77,509.00 2,624.00 7,21,569.68
*******-3-
Annexure
Annexure referred to in reply to (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No 1121 for answering on 25.07.2025
Action taken report from April 25 to July 25 (ason18.07.2025)
Black Marketing Hoarding Sub Standard Quality Diversion
Show
No.of
Show No. of FIR Cause No. of FIR Show No. of FIR Show No. of FIR
Inspections
Cause licenses registered Notice licenses registered Cause licenses registered Cause licenses registered
/raids
Notice Cancelled issued Cancelled Notice Cancelled Notice Cancelled
issued /suspended /suspended issued /suspended issued /suspended
All India 111983 2207 1674 90 272 48 4 1034 57 7 922 237 24