‘Fertiliser Flying Squad’ for surprise inspections
- Recently, the Department of Fertilizers has appointed a special officer named ‘Fertilizers Flying Squad’.
- This officer will check and inspect the diversion of fertilizers, black marketing and supply of substandard fertilizers to the farmers.
- Banning diversion of urea towards industries is likely to save subsidy of Rs 6,000
- According to an estimate, about one million tons of agro-grade urea is diverted for industrial use every year.
- Agriculture-grade urea has neem-coating to prevent leakage. However, the neem-coating is removed by some chemical processes. Urea is then used for industrial purposes.
Reasons for diversion:
- The huge price difference between fertilizers for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes: because of this it is diverted for use in plywood, resin, ceramics, molding powder, animal feed, dairy and industrial mining explosives.
- Demand-supply gap: Industries require more than one million tons, but they import only 200,000
- Large quantities of urea are illegally exported to neighboring countries like Nepal and Bangladesh.
Urea and subsidy
- It is a white crystal-like solid nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
- It is the only fertilizer whose price and supply are legally controlled by the government.
- The central government bears the subsidy burden of over Rs 2,700 per bag.
Source – The Hindu
