'No shortage of fertilisers in India': Centre assures amid West Asia conflict

"All our partners have assured us of uninterrupted supplies and we hope to attain and maintain comfortable fertiliser stocks by the time Kharif demand peaks by May 15. Our stocks of urea are more than what they were at this point last year," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

New Delhi: The Centre on Saturday said that there is no shortage of fertilisers in the country in view of the West Asia conflict and current stocks of urea and other crop nutrients remain "more than adequate".

"All our partners have assured us of uninterrupted supplies and we hope to attain and maintain comfortable fertiliser stocks by the time Kharif demand peaks by May 15. Our stocks of urea are more than what they were at this point last year," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters here.

Jaiswal said India's DAP (Diammonium phosphate) stocks are double of what they were in 2025, while the NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) stock position is similarly much higher today in comparison to last year.

"Observers and commentators would do well to look at the factual situation and not induce panic through uninformed speculation," he said.

While DAP is the most widely used phosphorus fertiliser, NPK is suitable for all stages of plant growth.

"In so far as our domestic production of urea is concerned, our current production will be more than our nominal consumption, especially since the Rabi season is coming to an end," the external affairs ministry spokesperson said.

Jaiswal also mentioned the Department of Fertilisers (DoF) putting out global tenders "well in time" in anticipation of the current situation.

"These have received a very good response and we expect to receive the bulk of the quantities ordered from a variety of sources by the end of March. The DoF has also decided to procure spot gas on a competitive basis and the first phase purchase will be by Tuesday," he said.

Minister of State for Fertilisers Anupriya Patel informed Parliament on Thursday that approximately 432.44 lakh tonne of urea is currently available in the country against a requirement of 370.84 lakh tonne. Sales of urea through direct benefit transfer have reached 381.59 lakh tonne so far this year, she said.