Fertilisers consumption tops 449 lakh tonnes
17 Aug 2007
The total consumption of chemical fertilisers in 2006-07 is estimated at approximately 449.1 lakh metric tonnes, while the production of fertilisers in terms of N+P (nitrogen and phosphates) in the country during 2006-07 has been about 354.30 lakh metric tonnes.
Minister of state for chemicals and fertilisers, and parliamentary affairs B K Handique said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today that the government paid Rs12,650.37 crore on indigenous urea and Rs6,648.16 crore on indigenous decontrolled fertilisers produced in the country during 2006-07, as subsidy.
Urea is the only fertiliser, which at present is under partial movement and distribution control of the government of India. During Kharif 2007, approximately 31.80 lakh metric tonnes of urea is planned to be imported to bridge the gap between demand and indigenous production.
Subsidised fertilisers are made available to the farmer at Maximum Retail Price which is much cheaper than the actual cost of production/import.
