Centre’s gift to farmers on Gandhi Jayanti: One Nation One Fertiliser

One Nation One Fertiliser concept to be adopted by Centre.

Keeping in view the need to reduce logistic cost and also to ensure availability of fertilizers and above all, to bring about uniformity in fertilizer brand across the country to farmers throughout the year, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers is planning to start “One Nation, One Fertiliser’ scheme across the country on the day of Gandhi Jayanti celebrated across the country on 2nd October, this year. The plan is to sell single brand fertilizer and logo across the country under the fertilizer subsidy scheme called “Pradhanmantri Bhartiya Janurvarak Pariyojna (PMBJP). The statement was made by Union Minister for Chemical and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya said on August 27.

Under this scheme the companies are allowed to show their names, brand, logo and other relevant product information only on one third space of their bags. The two thirds of the space remaining the “Bharat” brand and Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana logo will have to be shown. That is, after the implementation of this scheme, it will be important for all the fertilizer companies to sell their Urea, Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MOP) or NPK, all fertilizer bags under the single brand names Bharat such as “Bharat Urea”,” “Bharat DAP”, “Bharat MOP” and “Bharat NPK”.

This initiative will remove brand specific preference confusion among the farmers as the same Nitrogen and Phosphorus will be used by different companies. The fertiliser companies have been given four months till December 31, 2022 to remove their old designed bags from the market, official sources said.

The scheme has faced criticism from both the fertiliser companies and the Congress. The fertiliser companies complained that the initiative will reduce their brand value and market discrimination will be rooted out. Congress complained that this initiative is to promote Bharatiya Janata party brand in the guise of scheme for farmers,

However, on a positive note there are advantages for the fertiliser companies as well. From now on, the Government will be prepared to bear the share of the blame if any such situation comes regarding the maintenance of proper standards by the manufacturing companies.

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