Cabinet may soon fix non-urea fertiliser prices

The Cabinet is likely to discuss a proposal to fix the price of phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers for the 2013-14 financial year next week. According to senior officials, the price will be determined as part of the nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) mechanism for non-urea fertilisers.

The NBS regime goes for subsidy on content nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassic of different fertiliser formulations, rather than blanket subsidy on entire products. The price approved by the Cabinet for the current financial year for per kilogram of nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur stood at Rs 24, Rs 21.80, Rs 24 and Rs 1.67, respectively.

The country had entered into the NBS regime on April 1, 2010.

Meanwhile, the ministry invited bids for the appointment of a consultant to assess the impact of the NBS policy and to make suggestions.