NEW DELHI, March 20: The Government has increased natural gas supplies to urea plants, leading to a 23 per cent rise in domestic urea production and improving fertilizer availability ahead of the Kharif 2026 season.
Amid recent developments in West Asia, the Department of Fertilizers has implemented a multi-pronged strategy combining higher domestic production and global procurement to safeguard supplies for farmers.
Through bidding conducted by the Empowered Pool Management Committee (EPMC), the government secured an additional 7.31 MMSCMD of natural gas on a spot basis. This has raised total gas supply to urea plants from 32 MMSCMD to 39.31 MMSCMD.
With increased gas availability, domestic urea production is projected to rise from 54,500 metric tonnes per day to 67,000 metric tonnes per day. Gas supply now meets 76 per cent of the plants’ average requirement, compared to 62 per cent earlier.
Fertilizer stock levels have also improved significantly. Urea stocks currently stand at 61.14 lakh metric tonnes, up from 55.22 lakh metric tonnes in the same period last year.
Stocks of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) have more than doubled to 24.24 lakh metric tonnes, providing a strong buffer for the upcoming sowing season.
Officials said the measures are aimed at insulating Indian agriculture from global supply disruptions while ensuring adequate and timely fertilizer availability for farmers.
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