Farming community waiting for implementation of fertilizer subsidy package: NFDC

June 23, 2020 (MLN): The farming community is waiting for implementation of fertilizer subsidy package in the wake of COVID-19 which has resulted in low offtake of both these fertilizers.

According to a monthly report by National Fertilizer Development Center (NFDC), the total nutrient offtake during the month of May 2020, was about 173 thousand tonnes, which shows a decrease of 62.2 percent over the same period of last year.

Similarly, Nitrogen offtake was around 134 thousand tonnes, which represents a decrease of 60.5 percent over the same period. Phosphate offtake was 36 thousand tonnes witnessing a decrease of 69 percent over May 2019, whereas Potash offtake witnessed an increase by 37.8 percent.

Total nutrient offtake during the first two months of Kharif 2020 (April-May) was about 440 thousand nutrients tonnes, which showed a downward trend by 36.7 percent over the same timeframe of Kharif 2019. Nitrogen offtake decreased by 40.5 percent. Phosphate offtake also decreased by 26.8 percent while potash offtake increased by 18.2 percent.

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