(a) whether there are any varieties of fertilizers for which there
is a demand but they are not being produced in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons therefor; and
(c) the time by which the country is likely to achieve self-sufficiency
in the production of requisite varieties of fertilizers?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS
AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)
(a) & (b): Major fertilizers like DAP, NPK, Urea and MOP are used in India.
Out of which MOP is not at all produced in India, because there is no viable
source of Potash in the country, as such the entire demand of MOP is met
through imports.
(c): Government is always encouraging production of urea in the country
to achieve self-sufficiency. The Government has announced a new policy on
4th September, 2008 to attract new investments. The policy is based on import
Parity Price (IPP) benchmark with suitable floor & ceiling prices aiming to
revamp, expansion, revival of existing urea units and setting up of Greenfield
projects. The country is almost fully dependent on imports to meet the requirements
of phosphatic and potassic fertilizers. Government has taken initiatives to encourage
indigenous production in P&K sector by allowing import parity price to the
indigenous manufacturers of DAP. Government has also reduced the custom duty
on phosphoric acid from 5% to 2% to enable indigenous manufacturers of P&K
fertilizers to acquire this important input at reasonable price. Government
is also encouraging private sector and public sector companies to explore the
possibilities for joint ventures abroad to ensure uninterrupted supply of fertilizers
inputs to P&K sector.