Despite Challenges, the Department of Fertilizers Ensured Seamless Supply: J.P. Nadda

The deliberative session brought together senior officials from the central and state governments, scientists, and representatives from fertilizer companies and cooperative societies. The discussions were held in the presence of Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Jagat Prakash Nadda and Minister of State Anupriya Patel.

Addressing the gathering, Nadda said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently placed farmers at the core of governance, and government policies must focus on making farming more sustainable and improving farmers’ ease of living. He noted that despite several challenges, the Department of Fertilizers had successfully met farmers’ fertilizer requirements during the year.

The Union Minister highlighted that a combination of record domestic production and necessary imports had ensured uninterrupted fertilizer supplies. He also stressed the need for greater inter-departmental coordination to address issues such as balanced fertilizer use and the diversion or misuse of fertilizers for non-agricultural purposes.

Speaking on the occasion, Anupriya Patel said the Prime Minister’s vision is to make India a global food basket. She added that the ideas generated during the Chintan Shivir would contribute to India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.

Fertilizer Secretary Rajat Kumar Mishra said the brainstorming exercise kept farmers at the center, with active participation from the government, public sector undertakings, and the private sector. He noted that the highly interactive format of the Shivir allowed all ideas to be discussed openly, leading to more effective outcomes.

The one-day camp, held at the National Agricultural Science Complex, saw 15 groups engaging in detailed discussions. Senior officials, including the Union Minister, Minister of State, and the Fertilizer Secretary, interacted individually with each group to hear their suggestions.

The groups deliberated on 15 key themes such as new-age fertilizers, self-sufficiency in fertilizer production, farmer outreach and awareness, digitalization of the fertilizer ecosystem, and the Nutrient Based Subsidy regime. Senior officials from fertilizer PSUs, along with representatives of cooperative and private companies, participated actively in the discussions.