Context:
Standing Committee of Parliament on Chemicals and Fertilizers reports called for ending the import dependence on fertilizers such as urea, diammonium phosphate (DAP), muriate of potash (MOP), and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK).
About NBS Regime:
- Fertilizers at Subsidised rates – Based on the nutrients (N, P, K & S) content present.
- Additional subsidy – Given to fortified fertilizers (e.g. molybdenum and zinc)
- Announced by – Government on an annual basis for each nutrient on a per kg basis
- Objectives –
- To increase the consumption of P&K fertilizers
- To maintain optimum balance (N:P:K= 4:2:1) of NPK fertilization
- To improve soil health and increase yield from the crops
- Implemented by – Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
The aim of PM PRANAM (PM Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management Yojana) is to reduce the subsidy burden on chemical fertilisers by utilizing the savings from the existing fertiliser subsidy.
Must read about Soil Health Card
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
With reference to chemical fertilizers in India, consider the following statements:
- At present, the retail price of chemical fertilizers is market-driven and not administered by the Government.
- Ammonia, which is an input of urea, is produced from natural gas.
- Sulphur, which is a raw material for phosphoric acid fertilizer, is a by-product of oil refineries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services – 2020 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
