New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday raised the subsidy on phosphorous (P) and sulphur (S) fertilisers for the ongoing 2025-26 rabi season, with a higher subsidy allocation of Rs 37,952 crore.
The budgetary requirement for the Rabi season, which began on October 10 this year and will end on March 31 next year, is approximately Rs 736 crore more than the budgetary requirement for Kharif season 2025.
“Union government's approval will ensure availability of fertilizers to farmers at a subsidized, affordable and reasonable price. It will also rationalize the subsidy on Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers, in view of the recent trends in the international prices of fertilizers and inputs,” the government said in a statement.
Rabi (winter) sowing has started in many parts of the country. Wheat, mustard seed and gram are the main crops grown in this season.
The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, increased the subsidy for phosphate to Rs 47.96 per kg for the ongoing rabi season from Rs 43.60 per kg in the 2025 kharif season. Similarly, the subsidy for sulphur was raised to Rs 2.87 per kg from Rs 1.77 per kg for the period under review.
The subsidy rate for nitrogen and potash were, however, kept unchanged at Rs 43.02 per kg and Rs 2.38 per kg, respectively.
"The subsidy approved for 2025 rabi season is higher by about Rs 14,000 crore from the previous rabi season (2024). During the last rabi season, the subsidy was about Rs 24,000 crore," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters.
The subsidy rate has been fixed, considering the import price and other factors like nutrient requirement, subsidy burden and maximum retail price (MRP), he said.
The government has provided a special package to ensure availability of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and triple super phosphate (TSP) to farmers without any increased MRP.
Prices of phosphorous and sulphur have increased up to 10 per cent from previous levels, while nitrogen and potash are at the same level, he said.
"DAP and TSP are highly consumed fertilisers. The increase in subsidy rate will benefit farmers in the rabi season. The government is bearing the burden to ensure retail prices of these fertilisers do not rise, he said.