Fertiliser Supplies Stable Despite Global Disruptions: Centre
The Union Government on Monday said that India has adequate stocks of key fertilisers, including urea and Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), ahead of the upcoming Kharif season, despite temporary disruptions in domestic production due to tensions in West Asia.
At a joint inter-ministerial briefing, Aparna S. Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Department of Fertilisers, said that fertilisers continue to be supplied to farmers at regulated prices. Urea is available at ₹266 per 45 kg bag, while DAP is priced at ₹1,350 per 50 kg bag.
She noted that the ongoing geopolitical situation has led to a rise in global fertiliser prices, along with higher freight and logistics costs. Key raw materials such as ammonia, sulphur and sulphuric acid have also been impacted, affecting domestic production.
According to the government, domestic urea output saw a temporary decline of around 30,000 to 35,000 tonnes per day due to disruptions in gas supply. However, supply conditions have improved, with gas availability increasing from 60 per cent earlier to around 80 per cent at present.
Despite these challenges, the Centre said overall stock levels remain strong. As of now, fertiliser stocks stand at 180 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), higher than 147 lakh tonnes recorded during the same period last year.
The estimated requirement for the Kharif season is 390 lakh tonnes, compared to actual sales of 361 lakh tonnes in the previous year. Officials expressed confidence that current stock levels are sufficient to meet demand.
The government is also in continuous coordination with major global suppliers to ensure uninterrupted availability through tenders, long-term agreements and supplementary arrangements.
To reduce dependence on imports from the Gulf region, India is actively diversifying its sourcing base. The government is exploring supply partnerships with countries including Russia, Morocco, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Jordan, Canada, Algeria, Egypt and Togo.
-ANI
