Non-urea fertiliser prices slashed

RETAIL prices of non-urea fertilisers including DAP have been slashed by up to R5,000 per tonne following drop in global prices of raw materials, Union minister Ananth Kumar said on Monday, reports PTI. The retail price of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) has been cut by R2,500 to R22,000 per tonne, muriate of potash (MoP) by

R5,000 to R11,000 a tonne, and complex fertilisers rates have been brought down by R1,000 per tonne. The new rates are effective immediately.

New Delhi, July 4: The retail prices of non-urea fertilisers, including DAP have been slashed by up to R5,000/tonne following drop in global prices of raw materials, Union minister Ananth Kumar said on Monday.

The state-run fertiliser firms Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) and National Fertilizers (NFL) as well as private firm Indian Potash (IPL) have agreed to reduce the price of non-urea fertilisers, the fertiliser minister said.

The retail price of Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) has been cut by R2,500 to R22,000/tonne, Muriate of Potash (MoP) by R5,000 to R11,000/tonne, while complex fertilisers rates have been brought down by R1,000/tonne.

For a bag of 50 kg, the effective rate for DAP would come down by R150, MoP by R250 and other NPK fertilisers by R100.

“The fertiliser ministry has taken a path-breaking decision. We have decided to bring down prices of DAP by R2,500/tonne, MoP by R5,000/tonne and NPK fertilisers by R1,000/tonne taking into account the fall in inter national prices of raw materials,” Kumar told reporters here.

The rate cut, which would be effective immediately, would entail a benefit of R4,500 crore to farmers, he said, adding the move would help promote balanced use of fertiliser.

Non-urea fertiliser prices have been reduced for the first time in last 15 years, Kumar said.

DAP, MoP and NPK are decontrolled fertilisers, the maximum retail price (MRP) of which are determined by the manufacturers, while the government offers fixed subsidy every year. Whereas urea price is controlled by the government and its MRP currently stands at R5,300/tonne.

On an average, the domestic demand of DAP is 100 lakh tonne, MoP 25 lakh tonne and NPK fertiliser 90 lakh tonne. “All-out efforts have been made to ensure that there will not be fertilisers in our country forth iskh ar if season and farmers can plan their so wing without any apprehension this account,” Kumar said.

The country is having good mon soon after two years of drought .“Due to good rains, we expected bumper output this year,” he added. PTI

The fertiliser ministry has taken a path-breaking decision. We have decided to bring down prices of DAP by `2,500/tonne, MoP by `5,000/tonne and NPK fertilisers by `1,000/tonne taking into account the fall in international prices of raw materials.