Executive Summary:
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2098 regarding the uninterrupted supply of Urea, DAP, and other essential fertilizers during the Rabi and Kharif seasons. It details the government's arrangements for ensuring adequate fertilizer availability, the benefits of Neem Coated Urea (NCU), and measures to curb black marketing. The response was provided on August 1, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Ensuring 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 fertilizer quantities to States based on projected requirements, issuing monthly supply plans and monitoring availability.
* The Integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (iFMS) is used to monitor 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.
* Distribution within the State at the district level is managed by the State government.
* **Neem Coated Urea (NCU):**
* In 2015, the government mandated that all domestic producers and importers supply 100% Neem Coated Urea.
* Neem coating slows urea release, reducing overall consumption.
* Studies indicate NCU improves soil quality, decreases pest/disease control and weed management costs, and improves crop yield and incremental income.
* **Curbing Black Marketing:**
* Fertilizers are declared essential commodities under the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985, and Fertilizer Movement Control Order, 1973.
* State Governments are empowered under the FCO to prevent fertilizer black marketing.
* Punitive action can be taken against those violating the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and Fertilizer Control Order 1985.
Impact Analysis:
* Farmers:
* Impact: Benefit from ensured fertilizer availability, improved soil quality, reduced pest control costs, increased crop yield, and protection from black marketing.
* Action Required: Utilize Neem Coated Urea for optimal results.
* State Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for district-level fertilizer distribution and preventing black marketing.
* Action Required: Accurately assess fertilizer requirements, manage in-state distribution, and enforce the Fertilizer Control Order.
* Fertilizer Producers and Importers:
* Impact: Must supply 100% Neem Coated Urea.
* Action Required: Comply with the mandate to supply Neem Coated Urea.
* Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW) and Department of Fertilizers:
* Impact: Responsible for assessing fertilizer needs, allocating supply, and monitoring movement.
* Action Required: Collaborate with states to assess fertilizer needs and take corrective actions to dispatch fertilizers as indicated by the State Governments.
Key Entities Referenced
Urea: A nitrogen-rich chemical compound used worldwide as a fertilizer.
DAP: Diammonium Phosphate, a widely used fertilizer containing both nitrogen and phosphorus.
Rabi season: The winter cropping season in India.
Kharif season: The monsoon cropping season in India.
Bagpat district of Uttar Pradesh: A district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, specifically mentioned in the question regarding fertilizer supply.
Neem Coated Urea (NCU): Urea fertilizer coated with neem oil, designed to improve efficiency and reduce misuse.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW): A department of the Indian government responsible for agriculture and farmer welfare.
Fertilizer Control Order, 1985: An order regulating the quality, distribution, and sale of fertilizers in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2098 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 01.08.2025
Uninterrupted Supply of Urea
2098: DR. RAJKUMAR SANGWAN:
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the arrangements made by the Government to ensure
uninterrupted supply of Urea, DAP and other essential fertilizers during the Rabi and
Kharif seasons across the country, State-Wise, especially in Bagpat district of Uttar
Pradesh;
(b) whether the farmers have benefitted from the use of the Neem coated Urea, if
so, the details thereof; and
(c) whether the use of 'Neem coated Urea' has significantly reduced the black-
marketing and misuse of Urea and if so, the details of the decline reported?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) Following steps are taken by the Government every season for ensuring timely
and adequate availability of fertilizers in the country, including the State of Uttar
Pradesh:
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.
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);-2-
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.
However, distribution of fertilizers within the State at district level is done by the State
government.
(b) During the year 2015, Government made it mandatory for all the domestic
producers and importers of urea to supply 100% Neem Coated Urea. Subsequent to
the introduction of Neem Coated Urea (NCU), one of the primary benefits of Neem
Coating is that due to slow release, the consumption of NCU reduces as compared
to normal urea. A study report prepared by Agricultural Development and Rural
Transformation Centre (ADRTC), Bengaluru, in June 2017 on the impact of Neem
Coated Urea shows that introduction of NCU has led to an improvement in soil quality,
decrease in cost of pest & disease control and weed management, improvement in
the yield of all crops and their by-products and higher incremental income in case of
tur dal, followed by sugarcane, soybean, paddy, jute and maize crops. Another study
report prepared by M/s Centre for Market Research & Social Development (CMSD)
has found that neem coating of urea has led to an increase in land fertility, higher
production of crops and a reduction in consumption of NCU compared to normal urea.
(c) 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 of
fertilizers and to take punitive action against any person / fertilizer company involved
in black marketing of fertilizers by violating the provisions of Essential Commodities
Act, 1955 and Fertilizer Control Order 1985 (FCO).
*******