New Delhi, July 28: The government reported on Tuesday that in 2025, a total of 484,663 raids were conducted across the country to combat the black market, hoarding, diversion, and sale of substandard fertilizers. This effort resulted in the issuance of 17,392 show-cause notices.
Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel informed the Rajya Sabha that these raids led to the suspension or cancellation of 6,941 licenses and the registration of 847 FIRs. She also highlighted the government’s extensive system to ensure uninterrupted supply and affordable pricing of fertilizers.
Government data revealed that during the fiscal year 2025-26, the availability of urea, DAP, MOP, and NPKS fertilizers significantly exceeded demand. For instance, the requirement for urea was 38.1 million metric tons, while the availability was 45.079 million metric tons. Similarly, the demand for DAP was 11 million metric tons, with an availability of 12.172 million metric tons.
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, along with the Fertilizer Department, collaborates with state governments to assess monthly and state-specific fertilizer needs, allocating supplies through monthly plans.
The movement of all major subsidized fertilizers is tracked via the Integrated Fertilizer Management System (IFMS). To bridge the gap between domestic production and demand, the government pre-arranges fertilizer imports and coordinates with manufacturers and importers for timely supply.
The minister noted that the government works with the Ministry of Railways to prioritize the movement of fertilizer rakes (freight train wagons), while state governments oversee distribution at the district level.
Fertilizers remain affordable for farmers through the Urea Subsidy Scheme and the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme. Under the Urea Subsidy Scheme, the maximum retail price (MRP) for a 45-kilogram bag of urea is set at ₹242, with the difference between delivery costs and market prices compensated to manufacturers or importers as a subsidy.
To keep DAP affordable at ₹1,350 per 50-kilogram bag during the Kharif 2026 season, an additional assistance of ₹3,500 per metric ton is provided, alongside NBS subsidies for imported and domestic DAP and imported TSP.
The minister also mentioned that the government has taken several steps to ensure the availability of safe and quality pesticides. The registration committee, established under the Insecticides Act of 1968, evaluates the effectiveness and safety of pesticides before registration. Pesticide inspectors appointed by the central and state governments regularly collect samples from manufacturing units and retail outlets for quality checks.
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