One Nation One Fertilizer scheme: What it is and how it will help farmers - Explained

One Nation One Fertilizer Yojana: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a two-day event titled 'PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022' today, October 17 at Pusa in New Delhi. The Prime Minister will also introduce Bharat urea bags on the occasion under One Nation One Fertilizer (ONOF) initiative.

Earlier in August, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers had issued an order to execute 'One Nation One Fertilizer' initiative by establishing a 'Single Brand for Fertilizers and Logo' under the fertilizer subsidy programme known as the 'Pradhanmantri Bhartiya Janurvarak Pariyojna' (PMBJP).

Why it matters: This is by far India's largest fertilizer initiative--ONOF. This move by the Centre is to unify fertilizer brands across the country, regardless of the company that creates it. Under this rule, the government is mandating fertilizer producers to promote their products under the brand name 'Bharat'.

According to the government release, the creation of the one brand 'Bharat' for all fertilizers will minimise the fertilizer's cross-country movement, which will result in large freight subsidies. During the occasion on 17th October, the Prime Minister will introduce Bharat urea bags.

The new development:  Under the new 'One Nation One Fertilizer' initiative, the companies are only permitted to advertise their name, brand, logo, and other pertinent product information on one-third of their bags. The "Bharat" brand and 'Pradhanmantri Bharatiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana' logo will have to be displayed on the remaining two-thirds of the space.

Moreover, for all fertilizer companies, State Trading Entities (STEs), and Fertilizer Marketing Entities (FMEs), the one brand name for UREA, Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MOP), and Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium (NPK), etc. would be BHARAT UREA, BHARAT DAP, BHARAT MOP, and BHARAT NPK, etc (FMEs), the new order mandates.