Key facts
- India possesses sufficient fertiliser stocks for the current kharif season and is preparing for the rabi season.
- The government will continue to provide urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) at subsidised prices.
- Preparations are in place to manage the potential effects of El Nino on agriculture.
- Discussions at the BRICS agriculture meeting covered balanced fertiliser and pesticide use, and organic farming promotion.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Saturday that India has adequate stocks of fertilisers to meet the demands of the ongoing kharif season and is prepared for the upcoming rabi season. He assured reporters that the government has made sufficient preparations to mitigate the potential impact of the El Nino climate phenomenon on agriculture.
Chouhan confirmed that essential fertilisers like urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) would continue to be available to farmers at subsidised rates, despite concerns over global supply disruptions and increased international prices. He stated that the government is prepared to bear the additional financial burden, estimated to be thousands of crores of rupees, to support farmers.
Discussions during the five-day BRICS agriculture meeting in Indore also addressed the balanced use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Chouhan highlighted India's ongoing efforts to promote organic and natural farming practices to enhance agricultural sustainability.
Regarding El Nino, Chouhan acknowledged its potential impact on India and other countries, but reiterated the government's readiness to manage the situation and expressed willingness to cooperate with other nations through information exchange and best practices.