Pradhanmantri Bhartiya Janurvarak Pariyojna

Pradhanmantri Bhartiya Janurvarak Pariyojna

Subject: Government schemes

Section: Health

Context:

The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers announced to implement One Nation One Fertiliser by introducing a “Single Brand for Fertilisers and Logo” under the fertiliser subsidy scheme named “Pradhanmantri Bhartiya Janurvarak Pariyojna” (PMBJP).

Concept:

• Under the scheme companies are allowed to display their name, brand, logo and other relevant product information only on one-third space of their bags. 
• On the remaining two-thirds space, the “Bharat” brand and Pradhanmantri Bharatiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana logo will have to be shown.
  • The single brand name for UREA, Di-Ammonium Phosphate DAP, Muriate of potash (MOP) and Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium NPK etc. would be BHARAT UREA, BHARAT DAP, BHARAT MOP and BHARAT NPK etc. respectively for all Fertiliser Companies, State Trading Entities (STEs) and Fertiliser Marketing Entities (FMEs).
• This scheme applies to both public & private sector companies.
• It will bring about uniformity in fertiliser brands across the country

Why?

• Awareness of the financial burden on the government to make cheaper ferlisers available to farmers.
• Bring down the cost of subsidy.
• Reduce the diversion of urea to non agricultural uses.

Fertiliser sector:

• The maximum retail price of urea is currently fixed by the government, which compensates companies for the higher cost of manufacturing or imports incurred by them.
• The MRPs of non-urea fertilisers are decontrolled.
  •  But companies cannot avail of subsidy if they sell at MRPs higher than that informally indicated by the government.
• The government also decides where they can sell  through the Fertiliser (Movement) Control Order, 1973.
  • Under this, the department of fertilisers draws an agreed monthly supply plan on all subsidised fertilisers in consultation with manufacturers and importers.
  • This supply plan is issued before the 25th of each month for the following month, with the department also regularly monitoring movement to ensure fertiliser availability as per requirement, including remote areas.