GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 759
ANSWERED ON:09.07.2009
PRICES OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS
MURLI MANOHAR JOSHI
(a)whether the prices of chemical fertilizers have fallen during the current year in comparison to last year; (b)if so, the fall in percentage terms;
(c) whether the Indian farmers would also get chemical fertilizers at a cheaper rates as a result thereof; and
(d) if so, the likely fall of prices in percentage terms for farmers?
Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERSbe pleased to state:-
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
(SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)
(a) to (d) The international prices of chemical fertilizers except MOP, have fallen substantially during the current year as compared to last year, as can be seen from the Table below:
Average International prices USD (PMT) Months Urea DAP MOP Phos Rock Ammonia Sulphur (FOB) (C&F) (FOB) Acid Phosp- (C&F) (C&F) (C&F) hate (C&F)
April`08 453 1330 515 1985 425 529 697
May`08 628 1331 666 1985 433 533 744
June`08 678 1274 700 1985 460 490 831
July`08 811 1290 726 2427 389 558 849
Aug`08 815 1269 858 2255 363 720 769
Sep`08 777 1175 933 2200 348 834 566
October`08 459 1013 945 1920 347 756 334
November`08 255 654 918 1810 353 290 65
December `08 246 441 918 1560 353 181 59
January` 09 268 373 918 980 250 168 57
February`09 302 405 918 760 250 196 54
March`09 306 414 768 705 250 261 57
April`09 278 377 718 630 134 296 64
May`09 264 346 717 630 154 292 61
% increase in May`09 over April `08 -42% -74% 39% -68% -64% -45% -91%
The farmers have been kept insulated from the volatilities of prices in the international market with a constant MRP since last more than six years. Thus, the change in international prices has not impacted the price of subsidized fertilizers for the farmers.