Stories
FAI Urges Bihar Government to Reconsider Ban on Non-Subsidised Fertilisers
- •The Fertiliser Association of India has urged the Bihar government to reconsider its recent ban on the sale of non-subsidised soil nutrients.
- •Bihar banned non-subsidised fertilisers on October 8 after farmers complained they were forcibly tagged with subsidised urea and DAP, increasing input costs.
- •FAI argued that the ban restricts farmers access to essential plant nutrients and contradicts the push for balanced fertiliser use and soil health.
- •The association noted that Madhya Pradesh implemented a similar ban previously but later revised it to restrict only the practice of tagging.
- •FAI warned that the blanket ban could disrupt nutrient balance, lower crop yields, reduce farmers incomes, and impact manufacturing operations.
Key Questions Answered
The Bihar government banned the sale of non-subsidised fertilisers on October 8 after receiving complaints from farmers that these products were being forcibly tagged along with subsidised urea, DAP, and complex fertilisers, which drove up their overall input costs.
The FAI warned that the ban would disrupt essential nutrient balances, harm soil health, and reduce crop yields and farm incomes. Furthermore, it would negatively impact manufacturing operations and interrupt vendor agreements to supply specialty nutrients under one roof.
The FAI noted that the current distribution system is primarily designed for bulk fertilisers and may not adequately support emerging products. Industry representatives have called for reforms to better integrate specialty products like bio-fertilisers and nano-fertilisers into the mainstream supply cycle.
