Ensuring affordable fertiliser access: Centre to invest Rs 37,952 crore this rabi season

New Delhi: The Centre will spend an estimated ₹37,952 crore on fertiliser subsidies for farmers during the Rabi 2025–26 season, according to an official statement issued on Monday. The allocation is about ₹736 crore higher than the subsidy requirement for the Kharif 2025 season.

The government has approved nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) rates for the Rabi season, effective from October 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. The subsidy will cover phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers, including DAP and NPKS grades, to ensure their availability at affordable prices.

Under the NBS scheme, domestic fertiliser production has recorded a 50 per cent increase, rising from 112.19 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) in 2014 to 168.55 LMT in 2025, the statement said.

The Centre has allocated more than ₹2.04 lakh crore towards NBS subsidies between 2022–23 and 2024–25, helping farmers access fertilisers at subsidised rates and supporting agricultural productivity.

Officials said the nutrient-based subsidy scheme has become a key pillar of India’s fertiliser policy, promoting balanced fertilisation, improved soil health and sustainable agriculture. The introduction of digital monitoring through the Integrated Fertiliser Management System (iFMS), along with regular coordination with state governments, has improved transparency, accountability and timely supply across regions.

The scheme has also contributed to higher foodgrain output, better soil nutrient balance and increased self-reliance in fertiliser production, the statement added.

The NBS scheme, introduced on April 1, 2010, marked a major policy shift by linking subsidies to the nutrient content of fertilisers, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur (NPKS), rather than products. This approach encourages efficient and balanced fertiliser use while enabling farmers to choose inputs suited to their soil and crop requirements.

By promoting the use of secondary and micronutrients, the scheme also addresses long-term challenges such as soil degradation and nutrient imbalance caused by uneven fertiliser usage.

IANS