FM Nirmala Sitharaman: Fertiliser Subsidy Unavoidable, Malacca Strait Issues Could Lead To “Doom”

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman raised concerns over soaring global fertiliser prices and disruptions to international shipping, saying food security depends on the free movement of fertilisers across countries. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Sitharaman said India imports close to 80% of its fertiliser requirement and cannot pass high international prices on to its farmers, many of whom operate small and fragmented landholdings. She explained the scale of government support with an example: a unit imported at around ₹3,000 is provided to farmers for about ₹300, with the government bearing nearly ₹2,700. The Finance Minister also highlighted challenges involving shipping lines, container availability and rising insurance risk premiums. She said India has created a separate shipping emergency fund to support fertiliser transportation. Sitharaman stressed that disruptions in fertiliser movement could pose serious risks to food security not only in India but across the world.