(a) whether there is any mechanism to assess the demand and supply of fertilizers
for Kharif and Rabi seasons in each of the State;
(b) If so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
(c) the action plan chalked out by the Government for monitoring the prices of
fertilizers at the block level;
(d) whether the Government has directed the companies to publicise cut in fertilizer
prices; and
(e) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS AND
MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
(SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)
(a)& (b): The assessment of the demand of fertilizers before each season is finalized by
Department of Agriculture and Cooperation in consultation with State Governments, through
biannual Conferences in which representative of Department of Fertilizer, Railways,
Fertilizer Association of India, Companies also participate. The details for the year
2012-13 and for the current Kharif’13 Season is at Annexure ‘A’.
(c): For Urea, the MRP in all the States, since 2003 was Rs. 4830/- per MT, which was
increased to Rs. 5310/- per MT w. e. f. Ist April, 2010. With effect from 01St November,
2012, the price of urea is fixed at Rs. 5360 per tonne (exclusive of the central excise
duty, central sales tax, countervailing duty, the sales tax and other local taxes wherever
levied)
For P & K fertilizers, it has been made mandatory for the fertilizers companies (manufacturers
/importers) of P&K fertilizer to submit certified cost data along with their subsidy claims
to examine and ensure that the MRPs fixed by the companies are reasonable. While announcing
subsidy rates for 2013-14, Government has also notified the indicative MRPs of P&K fertilizers
and the amount to be reduced by the fertilizer companies from then prevailing prices, so as
to check and ensure that the prices are fixed reasonably.
The distribution of fertilizers to the farmers within the state at fair price is the
responsibility of the concerned states. State Governments under the extant provisions
of Fertilizer Control Order(FCO), 1985 are adequately empowered to take preventive/punitive
actions against the offenders who indulge in Black-Marketing/Breach of Price/Tagging etc.
Through Web based information system i.e. Fertilizer Monitoring System(FMS), DOF is
monitoring movement of fertilizer across the country and through mFMS it has been extended
up to retailers level. Every company is required to feed MRP of fertilizers in FMS.
(d) & (e): The Department of Fertilizers has issued directions to the companies to
publicize reduction in fertilizer prices vide copy enclosed at Annexure ‘B’.