Govt Assures Adequate Fertiliser Stocks Despite West Asia Crisis

New Delhi — The government on Monday reassured that fertiliser availability remains stable despite ongoing tensions in West Asia, with current stock levels standing at around 180 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), significantly higher than 147 LMT recorded a year ago.

At an inter-ministerial briefing, Aparna Sharma stated that both urea and Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) are being supplied to farmers at regulated prices, ensuring affordability and availability. However, she acknowledged that domestic urea production has been impacted.

She noted that the global fertiliser market is under pressure due to geopolitical developments, leading to higher prices and increased freight costs. Despite this, supply chains are being actively managed to prevent disruptions.

Given India’s dependence on imports for urea and phosphatic fertilisers, the government has taken proactive steps to secure long-term supplies. Agreements have been signed by Indian firms like KRIBHCO, IPL, and CIL with Saudi Arabia’s Maaden to import 31 LMT of DAP and NPK fertilisers annually over a five-year period from 2025–26 to 2029–30.

To further reduce risks, India is diversifying its sourcing network, procuring fertilisers from countries such as Russia, Morocco, Australia, Algeria, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Canada.

Aparna Sharma also highlighted that April and May are typically lean months used to build up inventories, and the government has already planned ahead to maintain adequate stock levels during this period.

Meanwhile, Sujata Sharma confirmed that fuel supplies remain stable across the country. Adequate stocks of petrol, diesel, LPG, LNG, and crude oil are available, supported by expanding piped natural gas (PNG) infrastructure and targeted relief measures for vulnerable sections.

She added that demand for LPG remains high, with over 1.04 crore booking requests in the past two days, out of which 92 lakh deliveries have already been completed. Authorities have also intensified enforcement, conducting around 2,500 raids and seizing 2,000 cylinders in a single day.

Overall, the government maintained that both fertiliser and fuel supplies are under control, despite global uncertainties.
 

With inputs from IANS