India experienced an excellent southwest monsoon in 2025. Rainfall from June to August was 6.1% above the historical average. The rains were well-timed and spread across most regions. This favourable weather boosted crop sowing and fertiliser demand across the country.
Monsoon Rainfall and Agricultural Impact
The monsoon rainfall was 8.9% above average in June, 4.8% in July, and 5.5% in August. Even May recorded an extraordinary 106.4% above-normal rainfall. Out of 36 meteorological subdivisions, 33 received normal or above-normal rains. Deficient rainfall occurred only in Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh. The timely rains encouraged farmers to increase sowing of kharif crops, particularly rice and maize. By late August, rice sowing rose 7.6% and maize by 11.7% compared to the previous year.
Fertiliser Sales Growth and Trends
Strong monsoon rains led to higher fertiliser sales from April to July 2025. Sales of urea, single super phosphate (SSP), muriate of potash (MOP), and complex fertilisers containing nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulphur (S) grew in double digits. Diammonium phosphate (DAP) sales fell by 12.8%, reflecting a continuing trend due to supply shortages. Farmers substituted DAP with other phosphorus-rich fertilisers like SSP and complexes such as 20:20:0:13, which also supply sulphur. The shift indicates a move towards balanced nutrient use.
Supply Constraints and Stock Depletion
Despite rising demand, domestic fertiliser production failed to keep pace. Urea production dropped from 102.1 lakh tonnes to 93.6 lakh tonnes in April-July 2025. DAP output remained flat, while SSP and complex fertilisers saw slight increases. Imports of urea and DAP also declined, mainly due to supply restrictions from China. This imbalance caused sharp stock reductions. Urea stock on 1 August 2025 was 37.2 lakh tonnes, down from 86.4 lakh tonnes the previous year. DAP and complex fertiliser stocks also declined . These shortages were most visible during peak kharif months when farmers urgently needed phosphatic and nitrogenous fertilisers for crop establishment and growth.
Policy and Future Supply Planning
The government underestimated fertiliser demand growth, driven by expanded rice and maize cultivation. These crops consume more nitrogen fertiliser compared to pulses and soyabean, which fix nitrogen naturally. With the kharif season ending, attention is shifting to the rabi cropping season. Reservoir levels are healthy, supporting strong rabi sowing and fertiliser demand. Planning adequate fertiliser stockpiles is critical. Recent easing of trade tensions with China may improve import supplies. Experts suggest promoting balanced fertilisation by substituting urea with ammonium sulphate and limiting DAP use to specific crops. This could optimise nutrient use and reduce pressure on limited fertiliser stocks.
Questions for UPSC:
- Critically discuss the impact of monsoon variability on agricultural productivity and fertiliser demand in India.
- Examine the challenges in domestic fertiliser production and import dependency; how can India ensure fertiliser security?
- Analyse the role of balanced fertilisation in sustainable agriculture and soil health management in India.
- Estimate the effects of international trade relations on India’s agricultural input supply chain and food security.
