Govt supplying quality seeds, fertilizers at reasonable price, says agri minister

New Delhi, 10 February 2022: The primary responsibility for disaster management rests with the State Governments. 

The State Governments provide financial relief to the affected people in the wake of notified disasters from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), already placed at their disposal.

However, in the event of disaster of a severe nature, additional financial assistance is extended from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per the laid down procedure, which includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT). The financial assistance under SDRF/NDRF in the wake of notified natural disasters is given by way of relief and not for compensation of loss as suffered/claimed.

The Government is implementing Sub-Mission on Seeds & Planting Materials (SMSP) from the year 2014-15 to promote production and multiplication of quality seeds of agricultural crops. Seed Village Programme is being implemented to upgrade the quality of farmer’s saved seeds under SMSP. Under this programme, the financial assistance is provided to the farmer.

The Government is also providing financial assistance to different States and Government Seed Producing Agencies for production and distribution of seeds and other seed related activities under various ongoing Crop Development programmes /schemes viz. National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Mission on Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) etc., to ensure timely availability of quality seeds to the farmers. These programmes/schemes help in enhancing agricultural productivity of various crops and also improving the profitability of farmers in the country.

The Government has fixed the price of Urea at INR 242 for a bag of 45 Kgs. The price of Urea has remained almost the same during the last several years. Urea is made available at a statutorily notified Maximum Retail Price (MRP). The Department of Fertilizers is implementing Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme with effect from 01.04.2010.

Under this Scheme, a fixed amount of subsidy decided on annual basis, is provided on Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P), Potash (K) & Sulphur (S). Any variant of the fertilizers covered under this Scheme with micronutrients, namely, Boron and Zinc, is eligible for separate subsidy to encourage their application, along with primary nutrients. At present, 22 grades of Phosphatic & Potassic (P&K) fertilizers and 16 grades of Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potash & Sulphur (NPKS) complex fertilizers are covered under this Scheme.

During 2021, the P&K fertilizers witnessed abnormal hike of raw materials and finished fertilizer products in international market that jacked up the production and import cost of fertilizers considerably.

However, the Government acted swiftly and increased the Nutrient Based fertilizer subsidy for P&K fertilizers, which helped in assured production and import of DAP & NPK fertilizers and their availability to farmers at the same prices, as earlier, during the current Rabi season. The overall supply of fertilizers during the current financial year i.e. 2021-22 remained comfortable.

The Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 strictly prohibits the sale of fertilizers, which are not of prescribed standards. In Schedule I of FCO, the specification of various chemical fertilizers has been specified. The State Governments are the enforcement authorities and are adequately empowered to take action against those indulging in malpractices.

This information was given by Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha recently.