Fertilizer availability comfortable for rabi sowing, stock position exceeds requirement across key nutrients
Mint - Economy · Published 9 November 2026 · Last updated
India enters the Rabi 2026‑27 season with fertilizer stocks far exceeding early‑season requirements, cushioning the crop cycle despite localized nutrient shortfalls.
Key points
- 21.5 million tonnes of total fertilizer were available nationwide as of 3 Nov 2026, against a pro‑rata requirement of 8.7 million tonnes for that date.
- Farmers have drawn 5.3 million tonnes so far, leaving a net 16.2 million tonnes buffer for the remainder of the Rabi season.
- Urea stock stands at 10.75 million tonnes, more than 2.5 times the early‑season target of 4.25 million tonnes.
- DAP availability is 3.87 million tonnes, nearly 1.9 times the pro‑rata need of 2.05 million tonnes.
- MOP (potash) stocks total 1.3 million tonnes, over three‑fold the required 0.37 million tonnes.
- NPKS inventory is 5.53 million tonnes, surpassing the pro‑rata requirement of 2.03 million tonnes.
- The government’s fertilizer subsidy bill has crossed ₹2.17 trillion in FY 2026, exceeding the budgeted ₹1.77 trillion.
- Rabi sowing lagged last year, covering only 3.75 million hectares by 30 Oct 2026 versus 6.9 million hectares in the same period of 2025.
- Agriculture economist Shweta Saini flagged localized shortages of sulphur‑ and phosphorus‑based fertilizers despite healthy national reserves.
- Farmer leader Puneet Singh Thind stressed the need for continued monitoring of distribution and DBT sales to sustain the comfortable supply position.
Background
- India is the world’s second‑largest consumer of fertilizers and the largest importer of urea, a trend established since the 1990s liberalisation of fertilizer imports.
- The Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985 created the Department of Fertilizers and the DBT mechanism to channel subsidies directly to farmers.
- In FY 2025‑26 the government raised the fertilizer subsidy ceiling to ₹1.77 trillion, anticipating higher input costs and climate‑related yield pressures.
- Historically, Rabi sowing peaks in November; delays in 2025‑26 were attributed to erratic monsoon onset and logistics bottlenecks.
UPSC relevance, Prelims facts and Mains angle for this issue are in the full SWAदेSH note.
Original report: Mint - Economy