Parliament Question: Fertilizer Subsidy in Kerala

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3308 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2026 Fertilizer Subsidy in Kerala

3308. Shri Kodikunnil Suresh:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

(a) the details of fertilizer subsidy released along with the quantity of subsidised fertilizers made available in Kerala since 2019-20, fertilizer-wise and year-wise;

(b) whether the Union Government has received any representations from the Government of Kerala regarding shortage, delayed supply/inadequate allocation of subsidised fertilizers, if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;

(c) whether the Government has made any assessment regarding the impact of rising international fertilizer prices and import costs on the availability and timely supply of subsidised fertilizers in the said State, if so, the details thereof;

(d) the quantity of urea, DAP, MOP, NPK and other subsidised fertilizers supplied to the said State during the last five years, district-wise; and

(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure adequate, timely and affordable availability of subsidised fertilizers to farmers in the said State, particularly paddy, coconut, rubber, spice and horticultural growers? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) to (e): Under the DBT in Fertilizers system, 100% subsidy on various fertilizer grades is released to fertilizer companies based on the actual sales made to beneficiaries. The subsidy is disbursed after Aadhaar authentication of the beneficiaries through PoS devices installed at each retail shop. Accordingly, fertilizers are supplied to all farmers at subsidized rates on a no-denial basis. Since funds are not allocated or disbursed in a district-wise or State-wise basis, such data is not maintained. The details of the total amount of fertilizer subsidy disbursed by the Government since 2019-20 is as given below:(Figures in Rs. Crore) Subsidy Scheme Financial Indigenous Indigenous City Imported Imported Total Year P&K Urea Compost P&K Urea 2019-20 15906.00 43050.00 33.85 10429.00 14049.00 83467.85 2020-21 22288.37 68807.41 68.74 15015.37 25049.62 131229.51 2021-22 31931.46 54619.72 43.71 20794.79 50250.40 157640.08 2022-23 50089.67 127311.10 0.00* 36032.56 41365.60 254798.93 2023-24 36270.00 102027.00 0.00* 28929.57 28193.94 195420.51 2024-25 34010.00 103319.50 0.00* 18800.00 21000.00 177129.50 2025-26 41000.00 94219.50 0.00* 33999.99 47956.24 217175.73 * The Scheme of City Compost has been discontinued w.e.f. 1st October, 2021 The recent geopolitical tensions disrupted global supply chains for fertilizers and raw materials, resulting in higher freight and insurance costs, shipment delays, and price volatility. However, fertilizer availability in the country remained largely adequate through diversified sourcing and Government interventions. Government has undertaken measures to diversify import sources by exploring procurement opportunities from various countries.

Moreover, the fertilizer industry has also collectively procured fertilizers and raw materials through an industry consortium to ensure transparent price discovery, improve bargaining power with global suppliers, and secure timely availability of fertilizers and raw materials. The budgetary allocation for fertilizer subsidy is reviewed periodically, based on which, the process for seeking additional budgetary allocation, on requirement, is undertaken, as per the extant provision.

The following Steps are taken by the Government every season for ensuring timely and adequate supply of fertilizers across the States/UTs, including the State of Kerala:

I. Before the commencement of each cropping season, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), in consultation with all the State Governments, assesses the State-wise & month-wise requirement of fertilizers. On the basis of requirement projected by DA&FW, Department of Fertilizers (DoF) allocates adequate quantities of fertilizers to States by issuing monthly supply plan and continuously monitors the availability.

II. The movement of all major subsidized fertilizers is monitored throughout the country by an online web-based monitoring system called integrated Fertilizer Management System (iFMS).

III. The gap between demand (requirement) and production for Urea & other fertilizer is met through imports. The import for the season is also finalized well in advance to ensure timely availability.

IV. The State Governments are regularly advised to coordinate with manufacturers and importers for streamlining the supplies through timely placement of indents.

V. Regularly coordinate with the Ministry of Railways for giving sufficient rakes, priority to fertilizers and for timely evacuation of rakes for States.

VI. The distribution of fertilizers within the State at district level is done by the concerned State government.

Accordingly, the availability of fertilizers i.e. Urea, DAP, MOP and NPKS has remained adequate in the State of Kerala since 2019-20 (i.e. in FYs 2019-20 to 2025-26). The information regarding requirement, availability and sales of these fertilizers in the State during the said period is placed at Annexure.

*****ANNEXURE Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3308 for answer on 07.08.2026 KERALA REQUIREMENT, AVAILABILITY & SALES OF FERTILIZERS FROM 2019-20 TO 2025-26 (Fig. in LMT) S.

No RAEY UREA DAP MOP NPKS tnemeriuqeR ytilibaliavA selaS TBD tnemeriuqeR ytilibaliavA selaS TBD tnemeriuqeR ytilibaliavA selaS TBD tnemeriuqeR ytilibaliavA selaS TBD 1 2019-20 1.17 1.34 1.14 0.33 0.20 0.17 1.25 1.07 0.89 1.20 1.64 1.32 2 2020-21 1.13 1.51 1.27 0.19 0.22 0.21 0.85 1.28 1.09 1.25 1.72 1.44 3 2021-22 1.22 1.29 1.15 0.20 0.14 0.14 1.10 0.86 0.77 1.45 1.43 1.26 4 2022-23 1.23 1.32 1.12 0.20 0.22 0.19 1.07 0.86 0.78 1.42 1.32 1.02 5 2023-24 1.19 1.13 0.96 0.20 0.18 0.16 0.97 0.87 0.70 1.42 1.56 1.26 6 2024-25 1.11 1.37 1.15 0.17 0.21 0.20 0.82 1.06 0.83 1.37 1.50 1.26 7 2025-26 1.14 1.30 1.14 0.20 0.31 0.22 0.90 1.07 0.87 1.30 1.60 1.25

1. Primary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Requirement

2. Secondary Indicator of comfortable availability: Availability > Sales