The Favorite Punching Bag of Fertilizer Industries Is Me: Anant Kumar, FAI Conference
Fertilizer Association of India has started it's annual seminar with the agenda of doubling farmers income. On the occasion, the Chairman of the association, KS Raju has shared his views regarding various policy reforms that are needed to cure fertilizer industry which is allegedly going through the third stage of cancer. Raju had pushed for the importance of fertilizer to grow farm income and even talked about the need for a task force from various industry stakeholders including the union government to immediately address pending issues.
Union minister for fertilizer, Anant Kumar addressed the huge gathering of thousand delegates from more than 40 nations and said how he becomes the favorite punching bag of fertilizer fraternity. Anant Kumar said, "I am trying to live up to the expectations of this industry, it is a coincidence that it's my sixth tenure as a parliamentarian from Bangalore and this is the second time I am busy dealing with state elections and addressing the seminar from FAI. He called the seminar as Kumbh Mela (the biggest traditional get together of the world) of the fertilizer industry.
Kumar said that his uncle from Dharwad is a marginal farmer and he used to complain about high rates and black marketing of fertilizer, but it has now been more than two years since he made complaint about difference of rates in fertilizer as well as unavailability of it, even he gets the fertilizer on credit said Kumar.
Minister has also shown his concern that many of the issues had been raised in past one year only. Till 2014, this ministry was not on the Indian development map. In fact, for more than two decades, the Ministry of Fertilizer was not even there, said, Kumar, while indirectly pointing fingers at the previous government to push the farming and allied activities on back foot.
Kumar said that "this is the first time fertilizer industry has got space at the address of Presidential address to Nation". He continued by calling it an issue of national and international importance when PM has mentioned it from his speech in Madison square garden to the Red Fort. Kumar recalled how his ministry has simplified various issues of price caps on fertilizer following the direction of Prime Minister of India. In an expected statement, Kumar also talked about the pooling of gas prices and neem coating of Urea as important steps towards industries welfare, though he was humorous to indicate that many of his friends may or may not be happy with few decisions.
The major commitment
Anant Kumar has not only addressed the gathering but also promised that he will be working hard to clear pending freight subsidy of billions of Rupees. Kumar also applauded the fertilizer industry to reduce costs along with falling international gas prices and delegate the benefits to farmers while managing a healthy prescribed composition of 4:2:1 among various Fertilizer mixes. Kumar has also assured that by March-end the entire nation will be covered under direct benefit transfer. The biggest commitment he made is to clear the backlog of pending subsidies of more than twenty-three thousand crores. He also stated that with the help of various PSU’s more than forty thousand crores have been invested in fertilizer industry with government's efforts. Kumar also pushed for review in GST slabs for ammonia and other components but avoided the question of BW BUSINESSWORLD if he will be working on the same for micronutrients in India.
Earlier to the session, fertilizer groups like KRIBHCO, Coramandel International Vishakhapatnam, Zuari International, Paradeep Phosphates, IFFCO Kandla, Indogulf and Narmada biochem were awarded by Anant Kumar for the efforts made by these groups.
