Question : FERTILIZER SUBSIDY

(a) whether fertilizer subsidy is being misused by agents of fertilizer in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the action/steps taken by the Government in this regard;

(c) whether the government proposes to amend the existing procedure for release of fertilizer subsidy and introduce Mobile Fertilizers Monitoring System for all fertilizers in the country;

(d) if so, the salient features thereof;

(e) whether the Government also proposes to introduce any scheme to provide direct cash payment as subsidy on fertilizers to the farmers of the country;

(f) if so, the details thereof and the extent to which farmers are likely to be benefited by the new procedures/scheme in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS AND MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION (SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)

(a): No, Madam.

(b): Question does not arise.

(c) & (d): Yes, Madam. The procedure for release of fertilizers subsidy has been amended with the introduction of Mobile Fertilizer Monitoring System (mFMS). The changed procedure has been notified on 25th October, 2012. The details of earlier and revised procedure are annexed.

(e) & (f): The National Committee on Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has decided not to go ahead, at present, with the proposal to introduce DBT for disbursement of fertilizer subsidy.