MDA-FERT

The scheme aims to promote organic fertilizers produced at Bio-Gas and Compressed Bio-Gas plants under the Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan initiative. It provides Market Development Assistance of ₹1,500/- per Metric Tonne to manufacturing and marketing entities of organic fertilizers.

The scheme "Market Development Assistance" was launched by the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Department of Fertilizers, and the scheme aims to promote organic fertilizers produced at plants under the umbrella Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan initiative covering various Bio-Gas and Compressed Bio-Gas support schemes. The scheme provides Market Development Assistance at ₹1,500/- per Metric Tonne for the sale of Fermented Organic Manure, Liquid Fermented Organic Manure, and enriched Phosphate Rich Organic Manure, along with gap funding for research from a corpus of ₹3,60,00,00,000/-. The applicant must register their manufacturing units on the Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan portal and market the fertilizers in conformity with the Fertilizer Control Order specifications.

• The applicant must be a manufacturing-cum-marketing entity, a Compressed Bio-Gas operator, a Bio-gas operator, a marketer, or a distributor under the umbrella Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan initiative.
• The applicant must be a Fertilizer Marketing Company marketing their organic fertilizers.
• The applicant must produce organic fertilizers at Bio-Gas or Compressed Bio-Gas plants established under the umbrella Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan initiative.
• The applicant must ensure the Bio-Gas or Compressed Bio-Gas plants are supported under initiatives like the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation scheme, the Waste to Energy programme, or the Swachh Bharat Mission.
• The applicant must register the Bio-Gas or Compressed Bio-Gas units with the Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan portal of the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation as a pre-requisite condition.
• The applicant must market Fermented Organic Manure, Liquid Fermented Organic Manure, or enriched Phosphate Rich Organic Manure.
• The applicant must market the organic fertilizers in packed form.
• The applicant must ensure the organic fertilizers conform to the specifications mentioned in the Fertilizer Control Order, 1985.
• The applicant must undergo quality testing at Government notified laboratories or National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accredited private laboratories.

##### Relaxations

• The applicant may market the fertilizers in bulk or loose form on an experimental basis subject to necessary notifications by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
• Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies may be engaged as aggregators by the Fertilizers Marketing Companies or manufacturers, wherever feasible.

##### Post-Selection Conditions

• The applicant must maintain records of a permanent nature in continuity year after year.
• The applicant must make all permanent records available to the Department of Fertilizers or the Fertilizer Flying Squad for audit and verification.

• Market Development Assistance of ₹1,500/- per Metric Tonne is provided for the sale of Fermented Organic Manure, Liquid Fermented Organic Manure, and enriched Phosphate Rich Organic Manure.
• A corpus of ₹3,60,00,00,000/- is available for research gap funding, to be utilized only by Central and State Research Institutes or non-private fertilizer cooperatives.
• The total budget outlay for the scheme is ₹14,51,82,00,000/- for three years from Financial Year 2023-24 to Financial Year 2025-26.

##### Disbursal

• Assistance is provided only for the quantity sold through Point of Sale machines.
• Assistance claims must be generated through the Integrated Fertilizer Management System portal using Direct Benefit Transfer.
• Claims must be submitted within two months of the sale of the organic fertilizers.

##### Conditions

• Marketing entities must print the Maximum Retail Price along with applicable Market Development Assistance on the bags clearly.
• Any State subsidy provided on the organic fertilizers must be passed on to the farmers in terms of a lower Maximum Retail Price.
• Each bag must display its constituents as given in the Fertilizer Control Order, the marketing entities' names, the manufacturer's name, and shelf-life.
• Marketing entities must ensure that any sale above the printed net Maximum Retail Price is avoided, as it is punishable under the Essential Commodities Act.