(a) Whether the Government supplies Potassium chloride to fertilizer companies at subsidized rate;
(b) If so, details thereof;
(c) Whether the Government imports Potassium Chloride; and
(d) If so, the details thereof and particulars about the use and allocation of the imported chemical?`
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)
(a) & (b) Potassium Chloride or Muriate of Potash (MOP) is a decontrolled and decanalized
fertilizer. Government does not supply Potassium Chloride or MOP to fertilizer companies.
Potassium Chloride or Muriate of Potash (MOP) is a straight Potassic fertilizer, which is
included under the Concession Scheme and is provided to the farmers at subsidized rate.
The country is entirely import dependent for meeting the requirements of MOP. MOP is
imported and supplied by importers for agricultural use. Government has indicated
Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of Rs. 4455 per MT at which MOP is made available to the
farmer in the country for agricultural purpose. Gap between the total delivered cost of
imported MOP and the MRP is provided to the importers as concession by the Government.
Manufactures of potash containing complex fertilizers also import MOP for production of
such complex fertilizers. Government provides concession for potash containing complex
fertilizers also. MOP is not allowed to be sold in the country at subsidized price for purpose
other than agriculture.
(c) & (d) Potassium Chloride or MOP is a decontrolled fertilizer and its import is on OGL.
As such, Government does not import MOP and there is no direct involvement of
Government in import of MOP. Importers bring MOP in the country and supply to the
farmers for agricultural use in different states for which they claim concession from the
Government. Year-wise import of MOP in the country for last five years is as follows:
Year Quantity of MOP imported (lakh MT)
2004-05 34.09 2005-06 45.78 2006-07 34.48 2007-08 44.21 2008-09 53.46 2009-10 (up to Sept. 09) 8.83