The government has forecast 6.8 percent decrease in the overall offtake of fertiliser for Rabi crops 2015-16 as compared to the previous Rabi season due to high price of fertilisers especially DAP in the country.
According to an official document of Ministry of National Food Security and Research, government has estimated total fertiliser offtake for Rabi season 2015-16 at 3.92 million tons against 4.2 million tons in the previous Rabi season, 6.8 percent less than Rabi 2014-15.
The total offtake of DAP fertiliser is estimated at 0.9 million tons, which is 20.9 percent less than the Rabi season 2014-15. The total urea offtake is estimated at 3 million tons, which is projected at 1.4 percent less than Rabi season 2014-15, it said.
The Rabi season will also witness a decrease of 10.8 percent in offtake of potash (SOP/MOP) fertiliser.
The Rabi 2015-16 will open with total balance of about 0.884 million tons. Domestic production is 2.94 million tons and total availability is expected to be around 3.83 million tons. The total offtake is around 3.92 million tons and the gap between the availability and offtake will be filled through imported supplies.
According to the document, the availability of DAP will be 0.67 million tons including 0.343 million tons of opening balance and 0.344 million tons of local production. The offtake of DAP is 0.9 million tons leaving a negative estimated inventory of 0.213 million tons as closing balance.
The availability of urea is 3.125 million tons including 0.525 million tons of opening balance and 2.6 million tons of local production. The offtake of urea will be 3 million tons leaving an inventory of 0.125 million ton as closing balance.
The total availability of potash fertiliser is 16,000 tons against the offtake of 15,000 tons, thus leaving closing balance of 1,000 tons.
According to the document, the total fertiliser offtake during Kharif (April to September) 2015 was 3.187 million tons reflecting a 3.1 percent decrease over the previous Kharif season. In Kharif season 2015, urea consumption was 2.66 million tons against 2.716 million tons of previous season showing a decrease of about 2.1 percent over last Kharif season.
The DAP offtake also decreased from 0.586 million tons to 0.512 million tons showing a decrease of 12.6 percent over Kharif 2014. Total domestic Kharif 15 opened with a total balance of about 0.362 million tons and total availability remained around 4.072 million tons.
The availability of urea during Kharif 2015 was 3.184 million tons including 0.214 million tons of opening balance, 2.629 million tons of local production and 0.341 million tons of imported supplies.
The offtake of urea was 2.66 million tons leaving an inventory of 0.525 millions tons as closing balance.
The availability of DAP in Kharif 2015 was 0.857 million tons including 0.139 million tons opening balance, 413 thousands tons of local production and 305 thousands tons of imported supplies.
The offtake of DAP was 0.512 million tons leaving an inventory of 0.343 million tons as closing balance.
Total availability of potash fertilisers (SOP/MOP) was 31,000 tons against the offtake of 15,000 tons thus leaving a closing balance of 16,000 tons.