Guwahati: Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, today asserted that there is no shortage of fertilizers in the country.

“The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a pro-poor and pro-farmer government and is committed to providing an assured supply of fertilizers to the farmers. “We have taken proactive steps to ensure adequate supply to the farmers ahead of the Kharif season, both by ramping up domestic production and partnerships with other countries," he said.

A high-level delegation led by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya visited Jordan from May 13-15 with the objective of securing fertilizers and raw materials, both for the short and long term.

Dr. Mandaviya stated that the Jordan visit proved to be path-breaking in terms of ensuring the supply of phosphatic and potassic fertilizers to India. MOUs were signed with Jordan Phosphate Mining Company (JPMC) for supplies of 30 LMT Rock Phosphate, 2.50 LMT DAP, and 1 LMT phosphoric acid for the current year with the Indian public, cooperative and private sector companies.

India has also signed a long-term MOU for 5 years with Jordan for annual supplies of 2.75 LMT which will uniformly increase every year up to 3.25 LMT, he added. “These supplies will be crucial for assured fertilizer supply for the ensuing cropping seasons in India”, the Union Minister highlighted.

During the meetings, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya mentioned Jordan as India’s preferred partner for the fertilizer sector. Given that the two countries have a long history of trade relationships and people-to-people contact, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the need to strengthen this association, especially during these challenging times for the fertilizer sector. With a thrust to secure additional quantities for the Indian market, Jordan was requested to take the lead in announcing India-specific terms for the supply of fertilizers and to consider additional production capacities in Jordan with India as a target prime market.