No shortage concerns, fertiliser availability stable: Govt
New Delhi, May 25
India's fertiliser supply position remains stable and well above normal levels, with stocks currently accounting for more than 51 per cent of the annual requirement, the government said on Monday.
The assessment for the current year stands at 390.54 lakh metric tonnes, while existing stock levels are at 200.12 lakh metric tonnes, significantly higher than the usual benchmark of around 33 per cent, according to Aparna S. Sharma, Additional Secretary, Department of Fertilisers.
Sharma said domestic production and imports have remained strong in the post-crisis period, supporting overall availability in the system.
Total domestic production has been about 95 lakh metric tonnes, while imports of around 22.60 lakh metric tonnes have further strengthened supplies, she said.
In all, about 117.6 lakh metric tonnes of fertiliser have been added to the overall availability base, she added.
The country has also secured adequate quantities of key fertilisers, including 13.5 lakh metric tonnes of diammonium phosphate (DAP) and 9 lakh metric tonnes of complex fertilisers nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK), ensuring sufficient availability for the upcoming peak kharif season.
Availability of raw materials required for fertiliser production also remains comfortable and is being regularly reviewed by the department, she added.
Category-wise, urea recorded domestic production of 57.66 lakh metric tonnes with imports of 13.60 lakh metric tonnes. DAP production stood at 7.93 lakh metric tonnes with imports of 0.88 lakh metric tonnes.
NPK saw domestic production of 18.71 lakh metric tonnes and imports of 4.44 lakh metric tonnes.
In addition, single super phosphate (SSP) production stood at 10.70 lakh metric tonnes with no imports, while potassium chloride or muriate of potash (MOP) was entirely import-dependent, with 3.68 lakh metric tonnes imported and no domestic production.
— IANS
Reader Comments
51% of annual requirement sounds impressive, but is it actually reaching the villages on time? We've heard such assurances before. The real test will be in July-August when demand peaks. Let's hope the supply chain doesn't get clogged.
Interesting that MOP is entirely import-dependent. That's a worrying vulnerability. We need to push for domestic potash production or alternative sources. The Ukraine war already taught us how fragile global supply chains can be.
My uncle is a farmer in Punjab and he says last year the DAP was late. This year they're claiming 13.5 lakh tonnes ready for kharif. Let's see if the distribution works properly this time. Fingers crossed!
From a global perspective, India's fertiliser management seems robust. The 33% usual benchmark to 51% is a big improvement. But I wonder how much of this is due to the drop in global prices vs genuine planning. Good to see transparency in the figures though.
It's nice to see the government proactive, but I wish they'd also talk about soil health. Overuse of chemical fertilisers is ruining our farmland. We need more emphasis on organic alternatives and balanced NPK usage. Sustainability matters!
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