Subsidy for DAP fertiliser hiked by ₹700 per bag
NEW DELHI: The Union cabinet increased nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) rates for phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilizers including diammonium phosphate (DAP), in an attempt to support farmers struggling with rising commodity prices during the ongoing crop season.
Farmers will now receive a subsidy of ₹1,200 per DAP bag against the previous cap of ₹500, at an additional cost of ₹14,775 crore, the Union government said after a cabinet meeting.
“In the last few months, global prices of raw materials of DAP and other P&K fertilizers have increased sharply. Prices of finished DAP, etc., in global markets have also increased. Despite this sharp increase, DAP prices in India were initially not increased by companies; however, some companies raised DAP price in the beginning of this fiscal. The government is fully sensitive to the concerns of farmers also, and is already taking steps to tackle the situation so that farming community can be saved from the effects of this price rise of P&K fertilizers (including DAP),” according to an official statement.
“Considering this crisis of pricing of DAP in India as an extraordinary situation and distress for farmers, the GoI has increased subsidy rates under NBS scheme as a special package for farmers in such a way that maximum retail price of DAP including other P&K fertilizers can be kept at last year’s level till the present kharif season. This has been done as a one-time measure as Covid package to reduce hardships of farmers,” the Centre added.
International prices may come down in a few months after the crop season, and the government may review the situation and fix the subsidy rate accordingly, the statement said.
Fertilizer subsidy is fixed by the government in advance while the retail price may see some fluctuations depending on the international price of the commodity. The cabinet also approved a deep ocean mission to search for resources and develop deep-sea technologies for sustainable use of ocean resources. The mission, with an expenditure of ₹4,077 crore, will help in studying ocean biology and climate change, and establish offshore stations to explore energy resources.
Union minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters that only five countries have this technology currently—US, Russia, France, Japan and China.