OREANDA-NEWS. The Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of urea is statutorily controlled by the Government and at present it is Rs. 5360/- per tonne (exclusive of central excise duty, central sales tax, countervailing duty, the sales tax and other local taxes, wherever levied) w.e.f. Ist November, 2012.An extra MRP of 5% (of Rs.5360/- per MT) is charged by fertilizer manufacturing entities on Neem Coated Urea. The difference between the delivered cost of fertilizers at farm gate and MRP payable by the farmer is given as subsidy to the fertilizers manufacturer/importer by the Government of India and at present Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Policy being implemented for P&K fertilizers w.e.f. 01.04.2010, promotes competition amongst the various fertilizer companies from public sector, cooperatives and private sector and ensures reasonable prices to the farmers. As the prices of P&K fertilizers have come down in the international market, the fertilizer companies have reduced the MRP of DAP, MOP & NPK Complex fertilizers by Rs. 2500/MT, Rs. 5000/MT and Rs.1000/MT respectively. Thus, there is no increase in prices of fertilizers.

However, there were reports of alleged black-marketing of fertilizers from some States during the year 2013-14 to 2015-16. During the current year there is no report of black-marketing from any State Government so far. In this context, it is informed that Government has declared fertilizer as an essential commodity under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and notified Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 and Fertilizer (Movement Control) Order, 1973. The State Governments have been empowered to take appropriate action to curb black-marketing of fertilizers and initiate action against the persons who violate these orders. Department of Fertilizers has, from time to time, written to the Chief Secretaries of various States and Ministry of Home Affairs to activate the enforcement agencies under their jurisdiction to take appropriate action to curb black-marketing. State Governments are responsible for ensuring availability of all subsidized chemicals fertilizers to farmers at subsidized rates.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers Sh. Mansukh L. Mandaviya in the Lok Sabha today.