Wednesday, November 30 2005 19:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Blaming the Government for not adopting a long-term domestic fertiliser policy, the industry has said this has resulted in a huge drain of foreign exchange due to its high imports.

"We have imported 7 lakh tonnes of DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate) between April and October to meet the demand for this fertiliser due to good rains", Fertiliser Association of India Chairman H C Grover told reporters here.

He said the industry had sought allowing imports of Phosphoric acid, a vital ingredient for DAP, at a price of 445 dollars per tonne from the international market, but the Government allowed for its import at 14 dollars less at 431 dollars a tonne.

As a result, he said, the fertiliser industry could not go ahead with its purchase from the international market resulting in high DAP imports.

The FAI officials said due to faulty pricing policies, in farms there is excessive use of urea having high nitrogen content, which could affect the quality of products.

"What is needed is restoring the physical and chemical health of the soil through scientific, balanced and integrated use of primary, secondary and micronutrients along with organic and biofertilisers where appropriate", Grover said.