India fertiliser stocks: Subsidised urea and DAP assured, El Nino preparations outlined

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said fertiliser supplies were sufficient across India. Chouhan also said the government had readied plans for any El Nino impact. The assurance came after the five-day BRICS agriculture meeting in Indore. Chouhan spoke amid worries about supply pressure linked to the West Asia crisis.

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Chouhan said urea and di-ammonium phosphate DAP would stay available at subsidised rates. Chouhan said farmers would keep receiving these inputs at affordable prices. Chouhan said the Centre was absorbing the rise in global costs. Chouhan said this approach aimed to protect farm operations during key sowing periods.

Fertiliser stocks for kharif and rabi crops

Chouhan said India held enough fertiliser for the ongoing kharif season. Chouhan said officials were also working to secure supplies for the rabi crop cycle. Chouhan said the government was taking all needed measures to avoid shortages. Chouhan linked the preparations to expected demand during the next planting window.

"Our government has decided that farmers will continue to get urea and DAP at affordable rates. The government is bearing the burden of increased prices,\" Chouhan told reporters after the conclusion of the five-day BRICS agriculture meeting in Indore.

\"This will put an additional burden of thousands of crores of rupees on the exchequer, but we are prepared to bear it in the interest of farmers,\" he added.

\"Our government is making every possible effort to ensure sufficient fertiliser availability for rabi crops as well. I am confident that we will succeed in these efforts under all circumstances,\" he added.

El Nino impact and government preparations

On El Nino, Chouhan said the Centre had prepared for potential effects. Chouhan said El Nino could affect India and other countries. Chouhan said India would work with other nations by sharing information. Chouhan also mentioned exchanging best practices to manage agriculture risks linked to weather shifts.

\"El Nino will have an impact on India as well as other countries, but we have made adequate preparations. We will also cooperate with other nations through exchange of information and best practices,\" he said.

Chouhan said BRICS talks also discussed balanced use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Chouhan said India was already running programmes to support organic and natural farming. Chouhan said these efforts were meant to make agriculture more sustainable. El Nino is a climate phenomenon linked in the past to weaker monsoons.

With inputs from PTI