Amid expectations of lowered monsoon with looming threats about an El Nino, the Department of Agriculture and Family Welfare have cut back on their requirement for both urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP), Aparna Sharma, Additional Secretary at the Department of Fertilisers told reporters at the bi-weekly inter-ministerial briefing about the developments in West Asia Monday.

Having consulted states, the senior bureaucrat informed that the Department of Agriculture and Family Welfare have cut down on their requirement of urea for the Kharif season this year from 194.04 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) to 190.32 LMT.

Further, they have curtailed their requirement for DAP to 56.23 LMT from 59.17 LMT.

Speaking to reporters, she stated, “Due to the El Nino effect, Indian Meteorological Dept (IMD) forecast that monsoons are expected to be lower, therefore, we requested the Dept of Agriculture and Family Welfare for re-assessment of fertiliser for the Kharif season.”

Ms. Sharma informed that about 132.43 LMT fertilisers – inclusive of Urea, DAP, NPKs, SSP and MOP – have been added to the country’s overall stock – through imports and domestic production combined since the conflict broke out in West Asia.

In addition to this, India has secured approximately 25 LMT of urea, 15 LMT of DAP, 10 LMT of NPKs from out of the Strait of Hormuz which are expected to reach Indian ports in June-July.

Further, the Additional Secretary stated that India has issued another global tender to procure 17 LMT of urea.