India in direction of becoming self-reliant in terms of fertilizers: Gujarat minister

Though India is getting less supply of fertilizer from major supplier countries like China, Iran and Russia, owing to the prevailing global conditions, the country is in the direction of becoming self-reliant in the field, senior minister and spokesperson of Gujarat government, Rushikesh Patel, said on Wednesday. Sufficient arrangements have already been made to ensure Gujarat gets the required amount, he added.

Interacting with media persons in Gandhinagar after the weekly cabinet meeting, Patel said, “…most of our fertilizer was coming from China, Iran and Russia. But, in the current global/war situation there, as Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) has said to be self-reliant in every sector, we are ready to be self-reliant. We are becoming self-reliant in terms of fertilizer as well. Currently, most of the supply of fertilizer in our country is swadeshi.”

When asked if the “shortage” of fertilizer in Gujarat is owing to non-supply from abroad, Patel replied in the affirmative, but added that sufficient arrangements have already been made so that the state gets its required amount.

According to Patel, the state government is doing intense monitoring of fertilizer distribution at distribution centres in the state. He said that discrepancies were discovered at seven places and action has been taken against those centres.