'Govt should try paying fertiliser subsidy directly to farmer'

Government should explore the possibility of paying fertiliser subsidies directly to farmers, experts said today.
"Government should gear up for direct cash payment to the farmers. It should be possible with the development of infrastructure, Aadhar cards and bank account under Jan Dhan Yojna connecting farmers with banking system in a year or two," ICRIER Chair Professor Agriculture Ashok Gulati said.
He was speaking at a round-table organised by the Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) and International Fertiliser Association.
Speaking at the event, FAI DG Satish Chander said that the industry backs the demand for direct subsidy to farmers so that growers be empowered to choose what type soil nutrients required.

"We support the demand for paying fertiliser subsidy directly to farmers and at the same time it will bring more efficiency into the sector and the industry would be able to work more closely with farmers," Chander said.
Chander also added that partial deregulations with opening of P and K fertilisers while continuing control of urea has resulted in unbalanced fertilisation.
"The subsidy schemes need to encourage balanced fertilisation including primary, secondary and micro nutrients. This may call for incentives to develop enhanced-efficiency fertilisers," he said.