With reference to media reports regarding reduced allocation of chemical fertilizers to the State of Chhattisgarh, clarification from Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers is as follows:

On the issue of allocation of 4.11 lakh tonnes of chemical fertilizers (2 lakh tonnes of urea, 60,000 metric tonnes of DAP, it has been mentioned that  50,000 metric tonnes of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), 26,000 metric tonnes of MOP (muriate of potash) and 26,000 metric tonnes of SSP (single superphosphate) approved by the Centre to the State of Chhattisgarh. It is hereby clarified that generally the allocation of fertilizers is based on requirement projected by the state governments during zonal conferences held by DA&FW.

Moreover, as per the state’s requirement projected by Chhattisgarh, 1.50 LMT of urea, 0.60 LMT of DAP, 0.50 LMT of NPK, 0.26 MOP and 0.75 LMT SSP was allocated for Rabi 2021-22 season. Therefore, 3.61 LMT is the allocation to the state. Rabi season is considered from 1st October to 31st March. As on date (17th Feb 2022), 4.36 LMT is made available to the state against the total requirement of 3.61 LMT.  It is also clarified that already around 120.8% of season’s requirement is fulfilled by mid-February itself. As on date, 1.85 LMT is available with the state after sale. Therefore, there is no shortage of fertilizer supply from the Government of India. The figure of 4.11 LMT highlighted in the article is wrong and misleading; the total requirement is 3.61 LMT only.

On the issue that the State has received only 1,71,476 tones of chemical fertilizers against the demand of 2,32,000 metric tonnes till January for the Rabi season,  it is clarified that against the requirement of 2.32 LMT up to January 2022, Government of India made the availability of 3.61 LMT of fertilizers. Therefore availability of chemical fertilizer in the State has remained adequately comfortable.

On the issue that the State had received assurances from the Centre regarding supply of 1.20 lakh tonnes of chemical fertilizers in February2022, it has only got 40,686 tonnes,  it is clarified that against the total  monthly requirement of   0.69 LMT , Government of India has already supplied 0.75 LMT of chemical fertilizer till 17^th February 2022.

It is also reported in the media that Chhattisgarh had to face a shortage of chemical fertilizers during the Kharif season too. It is hereby clarified that there was no shortage of fertilizer for the Kharif 2021 (1st April to 30th September) season in the State as Government of India made available 14.44 LMT of chemical fertilizer against the total seasonal demand of 11.75 LMT.

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MV/AK

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