STABLE PRICES KEEP IMPORT BILL CONTAINED Fertiliser imports rise 60% in Apr-Nov on firm demand

WITH AN ENCOURAGING trend in winter crops sowing and robust monsoon rains, imports of urea, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and NPK variants of soil nutrients, have surged in the first eight months of the current fiscal year.

- SANDIP DAS

Surge in shipment also indicates the government's thrust to ensure adequate supply of fertilisers in the ongoing rabi or winter season, but it may have implications for the subsidy bill.

In the last kharif season, shortage of urea was reported from some parts of the country, as the production and imports could not match the demand, which spiked over 5% on year.