Question : FERTILIZER ADVISORY FORUM

(a) Whether a Fertilizer Advisory Forum has been formed by the Government;

(b) if so, the composition thereof; and

(c) the details of functions and status of this Forum ?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)

(a) Yes Madam.

(b) The Composition of Fertilizer Advisory Forum is as under:
i Minister(C&F) Chairman
ii. Minister of State (C&F)
iii. Agriculture Minister of all States/UTs
iv. Secretary, Department of Fertilizers
v. Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation
vi. Joint Secretary (INM), Department of Agriculture & Cooperation
vii. Joint Secretary (F&P), Department of Fertilizers
viii. Joint Secretary (A&M), Department of Fertilizers Member Secretary
ix. Joint Secretary (P&P), Department of Fertilizers
x. Chief Executives, Apex Marketing Federation of all States.
xi. MDs/CMDs of all fertilizer producing Companies/Coop. Societies.
xii. Two representatives of farmers to be nominated by Department of Fertilizers
from each State.
xiii. Two representatives of dealers from each State
xiv. Two representatives for each Fertilizers manufacturing Industry
xv. Two officials of State Government at the level of Secretary and Director
Agriculture.

(c) The function of Fertilizer Advisory Forum is to provide a platform for all stakeholders for deliberating on issues such as promotion of balanced application of fertilizer nutrients, bio fertilizers and organic fertilizers with the objective of realization of optimal benefits by the farmers which will help the Department of Fertilizers in formulation of farmer friendly policies.

The constitution of Fertilizer Advisory Forum was departmental initiative with the approval of the then Minister (Chemicals & Fertilizers and Steel) and it was constituted in the year 2004. Fertilizer Advisory Forum meets once a year and till date three meetings have been held so far.