Phosphatic & Potassic (P&K) fertilizers including Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) are under Open General License (OGL). The fertilizer companies are free to import / manufacture these fertilizers as per their business dynamics. The details of DAP imported and sold during 2023-24 and 2024-25 are as under:

In October 2021 China amended its catalogue of commodities requiring mandatory additional inspection prior to export of fertilizer-related items, including DAP.

Under NBS Scheme, MRP is fixed by fertilizer companies as per market dynamics at reasonable level which is monitored by the Government. However, to ensure smooth and affordable supply, special provisions like Rs. 3500 per MT to cover ‘Other Costs’ which includes costs incurred from factory gate to farm gate, advantage / disadvantage due to increase / decrease in international prices, provision for GST component included in the MRP and provision for reasonable return @ 4% of net MRP (MRP-GST) have been extended to both imported and domestic DAP and imported TSP over and above NBS subsidy for Kharif 2025 season.

To reduce import dependency and promote nutrient self-sufficiency, India is encouraging the development and adoption of innovative fertilizers such as nano-fertilizers (e.g., nano-urea), customized and fortified fertilizers (e.g., sulphur-coated urea, zinc-enriched DAP), biofertilizers, and slow- or controlled-release formulations. These innovations enhance nutrient use efficiency, reduce application rates, and minimize nutrient losses, thereby decreasing the demand for imported fertilizers. Government of India, under the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985, has notified various Nano Nitrogen fertilizers. These include IFFCO's Nano Urea Plus containing 16% nitrogen, notified on 15 April 2024 vide Gazette Notification S.O. 1801(E); Zuari Farm Hub's Nano Urea (8%), notified on 2 March 2023 vide S.O. 1026(E); and Ray Nano & Research Centre's Nano Urea (4.4%), notified on 6 March 2023 vide S.O. 1144(Ε).

Similarly, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), through Gazette Notifications S.O. 1025(E) and S.O. 1026(E) dated 2nd March 2023, authorized M/s IFFCO and CIL respectively to manufacture Nano DAP. Additionally, Nano DAP developed by Zuari Farm Hub Ltd. has also been notified under the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) via Gazette Notification S.O. 5077(E) dated 29th November 2023, while Nano DAP developed by Natural Plant Protection Limited was similarly notified under the FCO through Gazette Notification S.O. 1785(E) dated 22nd April 2024.

To promote the use of Nano Fertilizers among farmers, a number of initiatives which include awareness activities such as camps, webinars, (nukkad nataks, field demonstrations, Kisan Sammelans and screening of films in regional languages have been undertaken. Nano Fertilizers, including Nano Urea, are being made available at Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras (PMKSKs) by the concerned companies. Additionally, Nano Fertilizers have been included in the monthly supply plan issued regularly by the Department of Fertilizers.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), through the Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, has recently organized a national campaign on “Efficient and Balanced Use of Fertilizers (including Nano-fertilizers).” For facilitating application through foliar application, initiatives such as the use of ‘Kisan Drones’ and the distribution of battery-operated sprayers at retail points have been undertaken. Pilot training and custom hiring spraying services through Village Level Entrepreneurs are also being actively promoted.

Furthermore, the Department of Fertilizers (DoF), in collaboration with fertilizer companies, has launched a ‘Maha Abhiyan’ for the adoption of Nano DAP across all 15 agro-climatic zones through stakeholder consultations and field-level demonstrations. A campaign for field demonstrations and awareness on Nano Urea Plus has also been launched  across 100 districts in the country.

This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Smt Anupriya Patel in Lok Sabha in a written reply to a question today.

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MV/GS