New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) The Indian Government has made a substantial increase in the supply of natural gas to urea manufacturing facilities, resulting in a remarkable 23% surge in domestic urea output in preparation for the Kharif 2026 season, stated the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers on Thursday.

This initiative is part of a larger plan aimed at guaranteeing sufficient fertilizer access for farmers and protecting the agricultural sector from international supply disruptions, particularly given the ongoing instability in West Asia.

By augmenting gas supplies to urea plants and facilitating imports through global tenders, the government has successfully enhanced both production and inventory levels.

A vital component of this strategy involves increasing the availability of natural gas, which is essential for urea production.

The government, via the Empowered Pool Management Committee (EPMC), has secured an additional 7.31 MMSCMD of gas on a spot basis.

Consequently, the overall gas supply to urea plants has risen from 32 MMSCMD to 39.31 MMSCMD, representing an approximate 23% increase.

This enhancement in gas availability is anticipated to directly amplify domestic urea production. Official projections indicate that production is expected to escalate from 54,500 metric tonnes per day to about 67,000 metric tonnes per day, again showing a 23% boost.

Moreover, this strategy has improved the gas requirement fulfillment for urea plants from 62% to 76%, aiding plants in functioning more effectively.

Simultaneously, the government has established a robust stock position, with current urea reserves at 61.14 lakh metric tonnes, exceeding the 55.22 lakh metric tonnes recorded in March of the previous year.

Stocks of DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate) have experienced an even more significant increase, more than doubling to 24.24 lakh metric tonnes, providing an additional safety net for farmers during the sowing season.

Government representatives noted that proactive planning has been instrumental in this enhancement. The Department of Fertilisers initiated global tenders well in advance, anticipating potential disruptions due to geopolitical tensions.

These tenders received a positive response, and most imported quantities are expected to arrive in India by the end of March.

During a recent media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that India is currently well-positioned regarding fertilizer availability.

He stressed that India is employing a diversified import strategy and is in discussions with multiple nations to ensure steady supplies.