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Amid reports of China withholding exports of specialty fertilisers to India implicit the past fewer months, home companies person turned to alternate suppliers successful Belgium, Egypt, Germany, Morocco, and the United States to span the proviso gap, the authorities informed Parliament connected Friday (December 5, 2025).
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Fertilisers Anupriya Patel clarified that specialty fertilisers autumn extracurricular the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) strategy overseen by the Department of Fertilisers, and are frankincense unsubsidised. "Fertiliser companies are escaped to import these products based connected marketplace dynamics," she said.
Ms. Patel highlighted ongoing efforts by Indian probe bodies to foster self-reliance successful nutrient management. Institutions specified arsenic the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and State Agricultural Universities are processing indigenous alternatives, including zinc EDTA, boron blends, nano-fertilisers, and bio-fertilisers enriched with micronutrients similar zinc-solubilising bacteria. These innovations are aimed astatine reducing import dependence portion promoting sustainable cultivation productivity. Ms. Patel added.
ICAR's institutes, including the Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISS) successful Bhopal, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) successful Delhi, and the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) successful Bengaluru, person pioneered technologies specified arsenic nano-fertilisers, bio-fertilisers, and customised nutrient blends.
These advancements are bolstered by authorities initiatives similar Soil Test-Based Fertiliser Recommendations and Site-Specific Nutrient Management (SSNM), which signifier the backbone of a broad Integrated Nutrient Management Strategy.
Under the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO) of 1985, nary class is explicitly classified arsenic "specialty fertiliser". However, it includes provisions for 100% water-soluble analyzable fertilisers and 100% water-soluble mixtures.
Official information underscores China's ascendant relation successful India's imports of water-soluble fertilisers. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, 1.71 lakh tonnes were sourced from China, accounting for 65.65% of the country's full imports of 2.60 lakh tonnes. This compares to 1.22 lakh tonnes from China successful 2023-24, oregon 59% of the 2.07 lakh tonnes imported that year.
