Fertilisers

Fixing Fertiliser: Urea subsidy cannot be allowed to continue unreformed

With fertiliser subsidies set to hit record levels, India faces growing pressure to reform urea pricing and shift support directly to farmers

India scales down kharif 2026 fertiliser requirement to 38.39 mn tonnes

India currently has around 19.98 million tonnes of fertilisers in stock, which means it has almost 52 per cent of the total reassessed requirement in stock as of today

Iran war forces farmers towards fertiliser alternatives like compost

When Senegalese farmer Abou Sow first watched US missiles strike Iran on social media, he had a sinking feeling it would soon affect agriculture in the West African nation. Since the war began on February 28, fertilizer prices have risen by 40%. Sow was better prepared than most. Eight years ago, he gave up chemical fertilizers for organic compost and other natural sources. He now rallies farmers in Senegal to buy manure from local herders and gives advice on how to make a rich compost, picking out wriggling worms a healthy sign. "We can't afford to wait for a ceasefire," Sow said. "It's risky to depend on chemical fertilizers." Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz has affected the supply of natural gas, essential for making chemical fertilizer, as well as global shipping. The Gulf region produces 30% of globally traded chemical fertilizer, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute, and global prices have increased by 50%, according to the World Bank's fertilizer

Greater use of biofertilisers can reduce India's chemical fertiliser burden

Balanced nutrient use, biofertilisers, and improved soil health can help India cut fertiliser imports and make agriculture more sustainable without hurting crop production

India's FY27 fertiliser subsidy may top ₹3 trn if West Asia crisis persists

Krishna Kant Pathak, joint secretary in the Department of Fertilisers said that to solve the problem, India should now start looking at solutions

German firm B+H Solutions eyes India expansion, plans €1 million investment

German agricultural technology company B+H Solutions GmbH is eyeing the Indian market to expand its presence, with plans to invest 1 million euros in 2026, banking on rising demand for its metal-based nano-fertilisers and a recent regulatory breakthrough to accelerate growth in the country. The company, which markets its products through its Indian subsidiary Dr Heinisch Agro Solutions India Private Limited -- incorporated in 2022 -- reported global sales of 20 million euros for 2025. "Given the FCO (Fertiliser Control Order) nano registration, we are very enthusiastic for this year and plan on investment of 1 million euros in India in 2026," Dr Laura Wieler, General Manager and Chief Scientific Officer at B+H Solutions GmbH, told PTI in an interview. Unlike conventional nitrogen-based fertilisers such as nano urea, the company's products are metal-based nanotechnology solutions -- primarily silver and copper nanoparticles -- that function as what Wieler calls "fertiliser plus." Th

India's fertiliser sector reforms: Time for action on import dependence

West Asia tensions expose India's fertiliser vulnerabilities, reviving calls for subsidy reform, nutrient balance and a shift towards green ammonia

Fertiliser subsidy bill for FY27 may rise by ₹70K cr amid West Asia crisis

The government's fertiliser subsidy bill for 2026-27 may surge by Rs 70,000 crore to Rs 2.41 lakh crore, driven by rising import costs of urea and other fertilisers amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, a senior official said on Monday. Aparna S Sharma, Additional Secretary, Department of Fertilisers, on the sidelines of inter-ministerial briefing on West Asia developments, said, "The subsidy bill will go up, but what percentage is something I cannot say." On whether the increase could be as much as Rs 70,000 crore, she said, "may be." The budgetary allocation for fertiliser subsidies in 2026-27 stands at Rs 1.71 lakh crore. Despite the cost pressures, Sharma said fertiliser availability for the 2026 kharif season remains "comfortable", with stocks exceeding 51 per cent of the total requirement of 390 lakh tonne, the gap being bridged through diversified import sourcing. Current fertiliser stocks stand at 200.9 lakh tonne, she said. Domestic production is running at approximately 80

India's fertiliser imports from China jump 173% in FY26, shows data

Russia retained its position as the top source of India's fertiliser imports. It accounted for 6.8 million tonnes of imports, as against 4.9 million tonnes in FY25

India set for record DAP import in single tender amid supply fears

The purchases, equivalent to about a quarter of India's annual DAP imports, are likely to tighten global supplies and support prices

IBA calls for 10% manure blending with fertilisers to save $2 bn imports

The Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has called for 10 per cent mandatory blending of fermented organic manure with chemical fertilisers by 2030 saying it can save USD 2 billion in imports annually. The IBA recently presented a white paper: FOM Feeds Soil, Soil Feeds Sustainability. The white paper was released by Union New & Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi during BBB Summit 2026 held from May 7 to 9, an IBA statement said. The white paper proposes a phased mandate to achieve 10 per cent blending of Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) with chemical fertilizers by 2030, positioning it as a critical intervention to restore India's declining soil health and accelerate the transition to sustainable agriculture. It outlined a comprehensive policy framework, the recommendation calls for integrating FOM into existing flagship government schemes such as the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) framework, Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme, and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). The ..

Fertiliser output steady; govt secures 3.7 MT urea imports for kharif

Total domestic fertiliser production (that includes DAP, NPKS and others) stood at 6.23 million tonnes during March-April, while imports were at 1.53 million tonnes

FM Sitharaman hints at Covid-like fertiliser subsidy for farmers

Finance Minister signals fertiliser prices may not be passed on to farmers despite rising global costs, as subsidy burden mounts amid West Asia tensions

Centre refutes fertiliser shortage claims; urea stocks steady at mid-April

India has urea stocks of around 6.73 million tonnes, against last year's 6.80 million tonnes

March dip drags India's FY26 core sector showing to five-year low

Fertiliser, coal, crude oil and electricity drag index; FY26 growth slows to a five-year low as input shortages and weak output weigh on industrial momentum

Fixing fertiliser subsidy: Pricing reform, targeted farmer support needed

Rising fertiliser subsidy exposes distortions in urea pricing, fuelling overuse and fiscal strain, highlighting need for direct farmer support and subsidy reform

Bangladesh seeks more oil, fertilisers as ties with India improve

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman meets External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval

US-Iran ceasefire lifts fertiliser stocks; Coromandel, Rashtriya Chem up 5%

Shares of fertiliser companies jumped up to 5 per cent on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump agreed to a temporary two-week ceasefire with Iran

Excessive use of fertilisers, water harms soil fertility: Shivraj Chouhan

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said in the Rajya Sabha that overuse of chemical fertilisers and excessive use of water are adversely impacting soil fertility in some parts of the country. In a reply to supplementary queries during Question Hour, the minister said the central government is promoting crop diversification and has launched many schemes, including the Millets Mission. Through these schemes, Chouhan said the Centre is making efforts to boost production of millets, pulses and oilseeds. "Due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers and higher use of water, the soil fertility is getting affected at many places," he said. Chouhan said the area and production of mills have increased in the last few years and expressed hope that the output and consumption would increase further. He appreciated the farmers of Punjab for helping India achieve self-sufficiency in foodgrains production. "Punjab ko pranam karte hain. Punjab ke kisanon ko pranam karte h

Adequate fertiliser reserves available, no need to panic, says Nadda

Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister J P Nadda on Friday said India has adequate reserves to provide fertilisers to farmers and there is no need to panic. Replying to a supplementary question in the Lok Sabha on what steps the government is taking to ensure availability amid the ongoing West Asia war, Nadda said he has spoken to state agriculture ministers on Thursday and informed them about availability of fertilisers. "I want to assure the citizens of the country the government has taken steps to ensure that fertiliser is available to farmers whenever required. We have sufficient reserves in place. There is not need to panic," the minister said. To a supplementary question from Congress member Manish Tewari on whether the government is looking at newer markets for fertiliser imports, Nadda said there is sufficient reserves for kharif season. "We are also looking for diversification, new markets, newer areas, wherefrom we will get raw materials also for fertilisers. We have framed u