AgribusinessIndia has not yet set nutrient-based subsidy rates for the rabi season as peak DAP demand nears, and fertiliser industry sources say the half-yearly decisions and a sulphur shortage are keeping prices high and plants below capacity.
OpinionDown To Earth's Sunita Narain says 13 million soil health cards show soils still short of nitrogen despite 20% more fertiliser use, and calls for measuring the biological health of soil.
A Department of Fertilisers official says the bill could exceed ₹3 lakh crore this fiscal year against ₹1.71 lakh crore budgeted if supply disruptions tied to the West Asia crisis continue.
The seizure of 78 tonnes of urea bound for Myanmar at Mirsarai and Sitakunda in two days has sharpened concern over leakage, hoarding and artificial shortages of subsidised fertiliser ahead of the Boro season; the government says stocks are sufficient.
CropsA CIMMYT policy note by Ravi Nandi and former BARC chief Wais Kabir says fertiliser subsidies take nearly 80% of the agriculture ministry's budget, favour large farms and should be reformed gradually, not removed.
Subsidy outgo passed Rs 1.14 lakh crore by September as LNG and import prices rose, though urea's landed cost has since fallen 57% from its May peak.
AgribusinessA World Bank report released in Dhaka on 15 June 2026 found that Bangladesh spends about a tenth of its public budget on agriculture but concentrates it on fertilizer subsidies and rice, leaving research, advice, irrigation and market access underfunded.
