Shri Tapan Sikdar,
Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers has said that
promoting an Integrated Plant Nutrient Management Systems, which
encompasses the use of biofertilizers, micronutrients, organic
manure, chemical fertilizers and lays emphasis on soil health
and quality control is the crying need of the day. He said that
a balanced kit of Nutrients is the long pending need of soil and
their use must be promoted by a scheme of incentives and disincentives.
Speaking at the
valedictory function of the FAI Seminar on "Fertilizer and
Agriculture – Meeting the Challenges" here today, Shri Sikdar
said that a greater clarity has emerged on the different constituents
of the long pending Fertilizer Policy. On the urea front, the
parameters of the seventh and eighth Pricing Period have been
finalized. The issue of reassessment of plant capacities has been
settled and a long-term policy is likely to be put in place from
April 1st, 2003. The next step forward one is eagerly
awaiting is 50 per cent distribution control. Besides Macro planning
of demand and supply there is an urgent need to plan a marketing
and distribution strategy wherein the district-wise need of fertilizers
is the starting point, he added.
Shri Sikdar said
that the future policy regime would expose the fertilizer industry
to greater competition and for survival the industry will have
to gear itself to attain highest efficiency standards prevailing
worldwide. He said that a modified concessional scheme for potash
and phosphate fertilizers would be put in place soon. The modified
scheme would address the aberrations resulting from implementation
of the present concession scheme to make it more equitable, he
added.
