(a) the estimated shortage of fertilizers this year for each crop cycle, State-wise;
(b) whether any plan have been made to ensure the long term supply of fertilizers from the other countries;
(c) if so, the details of agencies working to bring about the same;
(d) the trend in fertilizer prices since deregulation of costs;
(e) whether such deregulation has ensured the availability of fertilizers in all parts of the country; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF THE STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)
(a): There is generally no major shortage of fertilizers. The State-wise requirement and availability of major fertilizers like Urea, DAP, MOP & Complex fertilizers during the seasons Kharif, 2011 and Rabi 2011-12 are at Annexed-‘A’ & ‘B’ respectively.
As can be seen, the availability of urea is adequate. Similarly, the availability of phosphatic fertilisers i.e. DAP/NPK during Kharif, 2011 has been adequate throughout the country. The short supply of DAP has been adequately compensated by additional supplies of NPK fertilizers. There was tightness in availability of MOP during Kharif’2011. There is no viable source of Potash in the country as such the entire demand of MOP is met through imports. During the year 2011-12, contracting for import of MOP could not be materialized upto the month of July due to substantial increase of prices and cartelization
by MOP producers in the International market. The contracting of MOP took place only in the month of August. As a result,
MOP availability also for direct application as well as for indigenous production of NPK fertilizers was comfortable in Rabi’11-12.
(b) to (c): Department of Fertilizers (DOF) is procuring Urea from Oman Indian Fertilizer Company (OMIFCO) Sur, Oman under the long Term Urea Offtake Agreement (UOTA). The quantity procured annually is about 20.00 lakh MT. DOF encourages the Indian fertilizer entities for acquiring fertilizer assets / resources and to set-up joint venture fertilizer projects abroad in the resource rich countries and also to enter in to long-term off-take agreements for supply of fertilizers / fertilizer inputs at some preferential prices from such countries. The DOF, during the recent past has signed the MOUs with some countries viz. Syria, Ghana, Indonesia, Belarus and Russia for co-operation in Fertilizer Sector.
(d) to (f): Under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Policy, which effective from 1.4.2010, a fixed subsidy is announced on annual basis on each grade of P&K fertilizers, based on its nutrient content. The NBS rates for the year 2012-13 have been fixed taking into account all relevant factors including international prices of P&K fertilizers, exchange rate, prevailing MRP of P&K fertilizers and its inventory level. If the international prices of P&K fertilizers and exchange rate remain at expected level, the MRP is expected to be stable.
The State-wise requirement, availability and sales of major fertilizers like Urea, DAP, MOP & Complex fertilizers during the year 2011-12 is at Annexed-‘C’.