The Centre has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the timely availability of fertilizers to farmers while intensifying action against black marketing, hoarding, diversion and the sale of sub-standard products. The government informed Parliament that 4,84,663 raids were conducted across the country in 2025 as part of its enforcement drive against fertilizer-related malpractices.
According to the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the raids resulted in the issuance of 17,392 show-cause notices, the suspension or cancellation of 6,941 licences, and the registration of 847 FIRs against violators.
The Ministry said it has put in place a comprehensive mechanism to ensure uninterrupted fertilizer supplies during every cropping season. Before each season, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in consultation with state governments, assesses state-wise and month-wise fertilizer requirements. Based on these projections, the Department of Fertilizers prepares monthly supply plans and continuously monitors availability.
The movement of subsidized fertilizers is tracked through the Integrated Fertilizer Management System (iFMS), while fertilizer imports are finalized in advance to bridge the gap between domestic production and demand. The Centre also coordinates with manufacturers, importers and the Ministry of Railways to ensure timely transportation, while state governments oversee district-level distribution.
The Ministry said adequate availability of all major fertilizers was maintained across the country during FY 2025-26. Against a requirement of 381.45 lakh tonnes of urea, availability stood at 450.79 lakh tonnes, while 396.60 lakh tonnes were sold through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. Similarly, 121.72 lakh tonnes of DAP were available against a requirement of 110.42 lakh tonnes, while availability exceeded demand for MOP and NPKS fertilizers as well.
To keep fertilizers affordable, the Ministry continues to implement the Urea Subsidy Scheme and the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme. Under the Urea Subsidy Scheme, the maximum retail price of a 45 kg bag of urea remains ₹242, excluding neem coating charges and applicable taxes, with the government reimbursing manufacturers and importers for the difference between production cost and market realization.
Under the NBS Scheme, subsidy is provided on phosphatic and potassic fertilizers based on nutrient content and point-of-sale sales. To keep DAP priced at ₹1,350 per 50 kg bag during Kharif 2026, the Centre has extended an additional support of ₹3,500 per metric tonne over and above the existing subsidy for imported and domestic DAP and imported Triple Super Phosphate (TSP). The assistance covers transportation costs, international price fluctuations, GST included in the MRP and a reasonable return for manufacturers and importers.
The Ministry said further reforms have been introduced to strengthen the phosphatic and potassic fertilizer sector. Guidelines issued in January 2024 prescribe reasonable profit margins of 8% for importers, 10% for manufacturers and 12% for integrated manufacturers. The number of fertilizer grades covered under the NBS Scheme has also increased from 22 in 2021 to 28, while freight subsidy on Single Super Phosphate (SSP) has been continued since Kharif 2022 to promote domestic production.
The Ministry said fertilizer requirements are assessed through Zonal Conferences for Agricultural Inputs, where states project seasonal demand based on cropped area, irrigation coverage, fertilizer consumption patterns and crop-wise nutrient recommendations linked to soil health.
Alongside fertilizer availability, the Ministry said it is also strengthening oversight of pesticide quality and safety. Pesticides are registered only after evaluation under the Insecticides Act, 1968, while the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare periodically reviews registered products based on scientific evidence and international developments.
To monitor pesticide residues in food, the Ministry has been implementing the Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level (MPRNL) project since 2005-06. Under the programme, 40 NABL-accredited laboratories analyse samples of vegetables, fruits, cereals, pulses, spices, milk, meat, fish and water. Monthly reports identifying samples exceeding prescribed residue limits are shared with state governments to promote safe pesticide use and encourage Integrated Pest Management practices.
The Ministry added that Insecticide Inspectors regularly collect samples from manufacturers and retailers for quality testing, with legal action initiated wherever products fail to meet prescribed standards. It also noted that registrations for generic pesticides are being processed on a priority basis to improve affordability and availability.
The information was provided by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
