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More than 483,600 tonnes of chemical fertiliser has been imported so far in the current fiscal year 2025/26.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, a total of 483,604 tonnes of fertiliser - comprising 287,379 tonnes of urea, 175,201 tonnes of DAP, and 21,023 tonnes of potash - had been imported by February 2026.

The amount of fertiliser imported so far also includes the quantity that was in transit from the last fiscal year 2024/25.

During the review period, Agriculture Inputs Company Limited (AICL) imported 357,372 tonnes, while Salt Trading Corporation (STC) imported 126,231 tonnes of subsidised fertilisers.

According to the Ministry, the government has so far issued tenders for the import of 491,300 tonnes of fertilisers from the budget allocated for the current fiscal year.

This represents almost 82 per cent of the annual import target.

The government has set a target to import around 600,000 tonnes of chemical fertiliser under the budget allocation for the current fiscal year 2025/26.

Through the budget speech, the government allocated a subsidy of Rs. 28.82 billion to ensure the smooth supply of chemical fertilisers to farmers in the current fiscal year.

AICL and STC are the public enterprises responsible for importing and distributing subsidised chemical fertilisers to farmers as per the budget allocated by the government.

At the same time, around 399,651 tonnes of chemical fertilisers, including stock from the last fiscal year, had already been distributed across the country by February of the current fiscal year.

By February, AICL had sold 297,543 tonnes of chemical fertilisers, including 183,827 tonnes of urea, 107,211 tonnes of DAP, and 6,504 tonnes of potash. Likewise, STC had sold 102,108 tonnes of chemical fertilisers, including 51,350 tonnes of urea, 45,212 tonnes of DAP, and 5,546 tonnes of potash.

There is currently a stock of about 130,521 tonnes of chemical fertilisers at the depots of AICL and STC.

Out of the 130,521 tonnes of stock, around 77,830 tonnes of urea, 36,482 tonnes of DAP, and 16,208 tonnes of potash is available at the depots of AICL and STC.

At present, AICL has 97,981 tonnes of fertilisers in stock, while STC has 32,539 tonnes.

Additionally, the Ministry reported that 23,989 tonnes of fertilisers - including 16,500 tonnes of urea, 3,287 tonnes of DAP, and 4,201 tonnes of potash - is in internal and external transit.

Dr. Januka Pandit, spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, said that efforts are ongoing to ensure the timely supply and distribution of fertilisers to meet farmers’ seasonal demand across the country.

However, she said that significant price hikes in the international fertiliser market have affected imports as per the target set under the existing allocation announced in the budget speech.

“Considering the price hikes of chemical fertilisers in the international market, we are requesting the Ministry of Finance to ensure sufficient budget allocation for the import of fertilisers as per the target so that they can be distributed to farmers during the paddy plantation season,” she said.

Many farmers face shortage of chemical fertilisers every year during the paddy plantation season.

Dr. Pandit said that by amending the fertiliser distribution procedures, the ministry has been transferring fertilisers from one municipality to another based on demand and surplus availability. She said this has helped ease distribution for farmers in need.