Govt considering to come up with 'Comprehensive Fertilizer Policy'

The government is planning to come out with a Comprehensive Fertilizer Policy, Parliament was informed today.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Chemicals and Fetilizers Minister Ananth Kumar said that the ministry is also working on the chemical policy and has already consulted various stakeholders on it.

"Consultations with the industry, ministries and other stake holders, on the draft National Chemicals Policy, have been held. The government will take a view on the contents of the policy and timing of its release," Kumar said.

The Minister also said, "The government is also considering bringing out a comprehensive National Fertilizer Policy."

At present, there are different set of policies for urea and complex fertilisers.

The price of urea is still controlled and fixed by the government, while the companies are free to decide prices on complex fertilisers as subsidy is fixed.

Meanwhile, both in the Economic Survey 2013-14 and the budget, the government expressed need for new urea policy.

Going one step ahead, the Economic Survey suggested the nutrient based subsidy (NBS) scheme in urea and also advocated towards paying subsidy directly to farmers.

It also pointed out the urea's highly subsidised price leads to its unbalanced use over complex fertilisers, resulting into wastage of more than Rs 8,500 crore both of the government and farmers.

This is also one of the reasons for higher food prices and taxes, the survey added.