Fertiliser Subsidy Hiked by 140%, PM's Office Says "Historic Decision"

"Prime Minster Narendra Modi has said farmers should get fertilisers at old rates despite the international price rise... The welfare of farmers is at the core of government's efforts," the PM's office said in a statement.

The Centre will offer a whopping 140 per cent increase in subsidy on fertiliser to offset the price rise in international market, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office said today. The government will spend an additional Rs 14,775 crore towards this subsidy. "Prime Minster Narendra Modi has said farmers should get fertilisers at old rates despite the international price rise... The welfare of farmers is at the core of government's efforts," the PM's office said in a statement. Farmers will get a subsidy of Rs 1,200 per bag of fertiliser instead of the current Rs 500. Instead of Rs 2,400 -- which is what the prices are working out to following the rise in global prices --  the farmers will continue to get a bag of DAP (Di-ammonium Phosphate)  for Rs 1,200.   The decision on hiking the fertiliser subsidy came at a high-level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister this evening.