New Delhi: Since coming to power in 2014, the Narendra Modi government has spent over ₹12 lakh crores on fertilizer subsidies. As a result, fertilizers have been made available to farmers across the country at very low prices, irrespective of international market rates. In the past, farmers had to wait in long queues to get fertilizers.
However, due to several measures taken by the Narendra Modi government, farmers no longer face such difficulties, and they can obtain the required amount of fertilizers at subsidized rates. These measures include the supply of neem coated urea, the revival of many closed fertilizer plants, the establishment of new plants, the enhancement of production capacity at existing plants with modern machinery, the creation of a national fertilizer monitoring system, and the prevention of fertilizer black-marketing through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. One such initiative was the establishment of the RFCL (Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd), inaugurated with an investment of ₹6,338 crores. For the 2024-25 Rabi season, fertilizers have been supplied to all states, and there are still stocks available in various states to meet their requirements.
Before each crop season, the central government typically takes steps to ensure that adequate fertilizers are available to farmers in each state. As part of this, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare coordinates with all state governments to ensure that the required fertilizers are available in each state according to their monthly needs.
Based on the data provided by the state governments, the Central Fertilizer Department ensures that sufficient fertilizers are supplied to the states month-wise and continuously monitors their availability. The entire supply of major fertilizers provided with subsidies is tightly controlled through an online-based monitoring system called the “Integrated Fertilizer Monitoring System (IFMS)” to prevent any malpractices. Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, along with the Ministry of Fertilizers, conducts weekly video conferences with agricultural officials from each state to take immediate action and ensure the timely supply of the required fertilizers. Once fertilizers are supplied to the states, it is the responsibility of the state governments to distribute them at the district and mandal levels based on the needs of the farmers.
Details of Fertilizer Supply by the Central Government to Telangana for the 2024-25 Rabi Season:
(In lakh metric tons)
