Amid rising geopolitical tensions linked to the Iran-US conflict, the Centre has stepped up efforts to pre-empt any potential fertilizer shortage in the country. The government is working on a strategy to curb fertilizer consumption and plug diversion of subsidized fertilizers, particularly urea.
Under the proposed National Framework for Subsidized Fertilizer Marketing, stricter monitoring of fertilizer sales will be enforced. At the same time, scientists and government agencies across the country will work towards reducing fertilizer consumption by at least 5 percent.
In preparation, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research has completed district-wise mapping of fertilizer consumption and requirements. A Joint Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry has written to state governments, urging cooperation in implementing the framework.
Senior government sources told Rural Voice that discouraging indiscriminate fertilizer use among farmers is a key objective. Farmers will be advised to adopt balanced fertilizer application in kharif crops, with scientists from ICAR and state agricultural universities engaging directly with them.
A senior scientist said farmers will be advised not to use Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) in paddy this season, as the crop does not require it. Emphasis will also be placed on reducing urea usage. The framework is expected to be rolled out soon.
The government is also considering linking fertilizer distribution to farmer IDs, with plans to implement the system nationwide from the upcoming kharif season. States have been asked to promote green manure practices, particularly the cultivation of dhaincha (Sesbania bispinosa) between April and June before kharif sowing and between crop cycles. Incorporating the crop into the soil after about six weeks is expected to reduce chemical fertilizer use and improve soil health.
However, experts caution that certified seeds of dhaincha are currently not available at the scale required. They also note that spending around Rs 3,000 per hectare may result in savings of only 20–22 kg of urea, raising questions over cost-effectiveness.
The Agriculture Ministry has also urged states to promote bio-fertilizers, bio-stimulants, and other alternatives. Meanwhile, bids received for the import of 2.5 million tonnes of urea stand at $959 per tonne (CIF) for the east coast and $935 per tonne for the west coast.
Sources said the bids are under review. If accepted, imported urea could cost around Rs 90,000 per tonne. This would mean that a 45-kg bag of urea, currently sold at Rs 266, would cost the government about Rs 4,500, significantly increasing the subsidy burden.
Domestic urea production has also been impacted due to gas supply constraints amid tensions in the Gulf region. Industry estimates suggest a production shortfall of around 1.5 million tonnes in March and April.
Meanwhile, the Department of Fertilizers has reaffirmed that India’s fertiliser security remains strong, stable, and well-managed, with availability consistently exceeding requirement across all major fertilisers. According to an official statement released on April 24 for the period April 1–23, 2026, urea availability stood at 69.33 lakh tonnes, DAP at 22.78 lakh tonnes, MOP at 8.32 lakh tonnes, NPK at 52.75 lakh tonnes, and SSP at 25.60 lakh tonnes. The government said this indicates a strong starting position for the upcoming kharif season.
For Kharif 2026, the Centre has estimated total fertilizer requirement at 390.54 lakh tonnes, of which around 180 lakh tonnes (46 percent) is already available as opening stock, significantly higher than the usual pre-season level of about 33 percent.
To ensure sustained availability and efficient distribution, State Agriculture Secretaries and officials are in constant coordination with the Department of Fertilizers to closely monitor movement and availability across districts.
India’s annual fertilizer consumption is about 650 lakh tonnes, including roughly 400 lakh tonnes of urea and 100 lakh tonnes of DAP, with the remainder comprising complex fertilizers.