India
Claims Fertiliser Self Reliance as Energy and Rare Material Inputs Remains
Import Dependent
·
Securing
the Soil: How PM Modi’s Strategic Vision Achieved Record Fertilizer Production
and Insulated Farmers from Global Shocks
·
Massive
Boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat: Advanced Sowing Stock
Surpasses 51% for Kharif 2026 as India Slashing Import Reliance
·
Six
new urea plants established since 2014, adding 76.2 LMT annual capacity.
·
Two
more urea plants (25.4 LMT capacity) to start production soon.
·
Urea
production increased from 225 LMT (2014-15) to 314.07
LMT (2023-24).
·
Production
remained strong at 306.67
LMT in 2024-25.
·
P&K
fertilizer production rose from 159.54 LMT (2014-15) to a record 211.22 LMT (2024-25).
·
New
public and private sector plants are under development.
·
Government
adopted alternative shipping routes amid West Asia conflict.
·
High-level
coordination through 7
Empowered Groups of Secretaries.
·
Multiple
reviews conducted to ensure uninterrupted fertilizer supply and gas
availability.
·
Total
Kharif requirement estimated at 383.9 LMT.
·
Available
stock stands at 195.79
LMT (over 51% of requirement).
·
Opening
stock reaches 200.98
LMT, well
above the traditional 33% buffer norm.
·
Combined
domestic production, imports, and global tenders added 153.79 LMT fertilizer availability.
·
Greater
self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission.
·
Urea: Global price above
₹4,100/bag; farmers pay only ₹266.50.
·
DAP: Global price above
₹5,000/bag; farmers pay only ₹1,350.
·
No
increase in retail fertilizer prices despite international inflation.
·
Sales
of eco-friendly fertilizers (FOM, LFOM, PROM) increased 7 times in FY 2025-26.
·
Ammonium
Sulphate consumption rose by nearly 60,000 tonnes.
·
Green
manuring expanded to 1.84
lakh hectares
through KVK support.
India
has significantly strengthened fertilizer security over the past 12 years
through increased domestic production, strategic stock management, farmer
subsidies, and promotion of sustainable agriculture. With fertilizer
availability exceeding requirements and import dependence declining, the
country is moving steadily toward becoming an Atmanirbhar Fertilizer Hub while ensuring affordable
supplies for farmers.
[ABS News Service/15.06.2026]
Posted
On: 14 JUN 2026 6:22PM by PIB Delhi
Under
the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the last 12
years, the Department of Fertilizers has achieved monumental milestones,
driving India toward complete self-reliance (Atmanirbhar
Bharat) and insulating its annadatas (farmers) from
unprecedented global market disruptions.
Despite
severe geopolitical conflicts in West Asia causing skyrocketing prices, acute
shortages of natural gas, and heavily delayed shipping lines, the Government of
India has mounted a proactive, war-footing response to ensure seamless
fertilizer sufficiency.
12
Years of Unparalleled Achievements & Domestic Production Surge (2014–2026)
Urea
Plant Revolution: Six
new mega urea plants have been established since 2014, adding a remarkable
annual capacity increase of 76.2 lakh metric tonnes (LMT). Two more
high-capacity urea plants with a combined annual capacity of 25.4 LMT are set
to commence production shortly.
Record-Breaking
Urea Output: India’s
domestic urea production surged from a mere 225 LMT in 2014-15 to an all-time
record high of 314.07 LMT in 2023-24. In the latest fiscal year 2024-25,
production remained stellar at 306.67 LMT.
Phosphatic
and Potassic (P&K) Growth: Mirroring
the success in urea, P&K fertilizer manufacturing reached a historic high
of 211.22 LMT in 2024-25, scaling up significantly from 159.54 LMT in 2014-15.
Public and private sectors are continuing this momentum by constructing
state-of-the-art P&K production plants.
Resilient
Crisis Management & Unprecedented Buffer Stock for Kharif 2026
To
address shipping delays around the Strait of Hormuz, the government rapidly
explored alternative transit routes and engaged diplomatic channels to source
materials directly from global producers. Under PM Modi’s direct guidance,
seven Empowered Groups of Secretaries were constituted—with the Fertilizer
Secretary leading 10 high-level reviews—guaranteeing seamless inter-ministerial
synergy and solving domestic natural gas supply issues in coordination with the
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Historic
Buffer Stock: Against
a projected total requirement re-assessed by DA&FW at 383.9 LMT, against
this stock as on today is around 195.79 LMT (more than 51%) for the upcoming
Kharif 2026 season, India holds an opening stock of approximately 200.98 LMT.
This represents an unprecedented advance availability of over 51%, far
exceeding the traditional buffer standard of 33.
Post-Crisis
Net Gain: Domestic
post-crisis production stood solid at 118.15 LMT. When combined with strategic
imports and successfully concluded joint global tenders, the total post-crisis
fertilizer availability witnessed a net addition of 153.79 LMT.
Absolute
Price Insulation for Farmers
The
Modi government has kept the interests of the farmers paramount by absorbing
international inflationary shocks. While geopolitical conflicts have sent
global prices soaring, the retail price of fertilizers for Indian farmers has
not been raised by a single paisa:
·
Urea:
While the global market
price exceeds ₹4100 per bag, Indian farmers continue to get the 45-kg bag
at a heavily subsidized rate of just ₹266.5.
·
DAP:
Against a global price
commanding over ₹5,000 per 50-kg bag, it is being made available to
Indian farmers at a mere ₹1,350.
Transition
Towards Sustainable and Green Agriculture
Spurred
by the Prime Minister’s vision to protect "Dharati Maa" and optimize
nutrient balance, a massive nationwide mass-awareness campaign was executed
from March to May. Farmers have responded with overwhelming enthusiasm:
·
Combined
sales of eco-friendly alternatives like Fortified Organic Manure (FOM), Liquid
FOM (LFOM), and Phosphate-Rich Organic Manure (PROM) soared to seven
times the volume in Financial Year 2025-26 compared to 2024-25.
·
Ammonium
Sulphate consumption surged by nearly 60,000 tonnes.
·
Green
manuring was introduced across a record 1.84 lakh hectares under the technical
guidance of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).
In
conclusion, India’s fertilizer security remains strong, stable, and
well-managed, with availability consistently exceeding requirements across all
major fertilizers. Through the highly effective and strategic initiatives of
the Government of India, domestic production continues to scale new heights,
ensuring that the nation maintains a robust and uninterrupted reserve. This
comprehensive preparedness guarantees that the critical agricultural needs of
our annadatas are met seamlessly, providing them with
reliable, hassle-free access to essential fertilizers at highly affordable and
subsidized rates.