Sat Mar 22 18:32:50 UTC 2025: ## Parliament Panel Urges Increased Fertilizer Funding to Avoid Hitting Farmers
**New Delhi, March 23, 2025** – A parliamentary Standing Committee has called on the Union Fertilizers Ministry to secure additional funding to prevent cuts to crucial farmer subsidy programs. The committee, chaired by Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad, expressed concern over a 7.38% reduction in the allocated budget for the Department of Fertilizers, from ₹1,84,704.63 crore to ₹1,71,082.44 crore. This reduction impacts both the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) and Urea Subsidy schemes.
The report, tabled in Parliament, highlights significant underutilization of funds in 2024-25 across various fertilizer categories, including indigenous and imported phosphorus and potassium (PK) fertilizers, and Market Development Assistance (MDA). The committee urged for improved allocation utilization.
Furthermore, the panel emphasized the need to expand the production of nano urea and nano diammonium phosphate (DAP), citing positive results from field trials showing increased crop yields, particularly in peas. They recommended a strategy to promote these nano fertilizers among farmers.
The committee also criticized the lack of effort to secure mining lease agreements for domestic fertilizer production, urging the government to actively pursue such agreements to enhance self-sufficiency in the fertilizer sector. The report concludes that substantial government, public, and private investment is crucial for achieving fertilizer self-sufficiency. The committee stressed the continued importance of the Urea Subsidy Scheme for food grain production.
First Piper 