Diversion of highly subsidized urea towards non-agricultural purposes at negligible level: Rao Inderjit Singh

Minister says no shortage of urea or any other fertilizer and availability is more than sales

The Minister of State for Planning (IC) and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Rao Inderjit Singh has informed the Lok Sabha that diversion of highly subsidized urea towards non-agricultural purposes is negligible among farmers after the introduction of the mandatory policy of production and distribution of only Neem Coated Urea.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

The Minister stated that Government of India has declared fertilizer as an essential commodity under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955(ECA) and notified Fertilizer (Control) Order (FCO), 1985 & Fertilizer (Movement Control) Order, 1973 under the EC Act.

State Governments have been adequately empowered to check diversion of fertilizers and to conduct search, make seizures and take punitive action against any person violating provisions of FCO, 1985 and Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

Neem coating of Urea is one of the measures to prevent diversion. It is informed that during the period from 2016-17 to 2018-19 (till date) only one case of diversion (in the year 2017-18) has been reported by the State Government of Uttarakhand. The minister further stated that there is no shortage of urea or any other fertilizer in the country and availability is more than the sales

Cumulative availability & sales of Urea and P&K fertilizers (Figure in lakh tonnes)

Year

Urea

P&K Fertilizers

Availability

Sales

Availability

Sales

2016-17

309.08

296.07

215.19

203.01

2017-18

313.56

303.2

223.46

212.39

2018-19

235.87

232.32

186.15

169.73

Production of Neem Coated Urea/Normal Urea (Figure in lakh tonnes)

Year

Normal Urea

Neem Coated urea

2015-16

13.13

231.62

2016-17

-

242.01

2017-18

-

240.23

2018-19 (Upto Dec.18)

-

177.62

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