02 April 2025, New Delhi: The central government has taken a significant step to support farmers for the upcoming Kharif season 2025. The Union Cabinet has approved Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers. A total subsidy of ₹37,216.15 crore has been allocated for the Kharif season (April 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025), which is approximately ₹13,000 crore higher than the Rabi season 2024-25. As a result of this decision, farmers will be able to purchase a 50 kg bag of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) at ₹1,350.
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, emphasized the government’s commitment to providing affordable fertilizers. “Farmers will get DAP at ₹1,350 per bag. The government is offering substantial subsidies, with around ₹1.75 lakh crore allocated for affordable fertilizers this year. A special subsidy of ₹37,216 crore has been approved to ensure the availability of DAP at lower prices during the Kharif season,” he stated.
10% Import Duty on Chickpeas to Benefit Domestic Farmers
In another significant policy decision, the government has imposed a 10% import duty on chickpeas (chana) to protect domestic farmers. The notification was issued on March 27, 2025. Minister Chouhan explained that the import duty will prevent an influx of cheap foreign chickpeas, ensuring fair prices for Indian farmers.
“This decision will help farmers get a better price for their produce. Chickpea production has also increased this year. According to the advance estimates for 2024-25, chickpea production is expected to exceed 11.5 million metric tons, compared to 11 million metric tons last year,” he added.
Previous Tariff Increase on Lentils
This move follows the government’s earlier decision to increase the import duty on lentils (masoor). Previously, lentils had zero import duty, which led to a drop in prices, affecting farmers. To counter this, the government imposed an 11% import duty to stabilize prices and support domestic production.
Focus on Subsidies and MSP
Minister Chouhan reiterated that the government aims to enhance agricultural production while ensuring stable prices. “The Prime Minister’s vision is to provide farmers with the right price for their produce. To achieve this, the government not only sets the Minimum Support Price (MSP) at 50% above the cost of production but also ensures a robust procurement system,” he said.
These policy measures reflect the government’s ongoing efforts to support farmers through subsidies, price stabilization, and trade regulations, ensuring a profitable and sustainable agricultural sector.
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