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Single Super Phosphate (SSP) Fertilizer
industry is the pioneering fertilizer industry in the
country and the first SSP plant is said to have been
established by EID Parry in the year 1906. Manufacturing
of SSP is based on perhaps the simplest chemical reaction
amongst chemical fertilizer industry. The main raw materials
required are rock phosphate and sulphuric acid. SSP
is a straight phosphatic multi-nutrient fertilizer which
contains 16% water soluble P2O5, 12% sulphur, 21% calcium
and some other essential micro nutrients in small proportions.
SSP, which is a poor farmer's fertilizer (price-wise),
is an option to optimise the use of phosphatic fertilizers.
It also helps to treat sulphur deficiency in soils (40%
Indian soil sulphur deficient) as well for further enhancement
of yields at the least cost. In various crops, which
require more of sulphur and phosphate like oilseeds,
pulses, sugarcane, fruits and vegetables, tea etc, SSP
is an essential fertilizer.
Advantages of SSP Fertilizer:
- Provides 15% of total phosphate requirement of
the country.
- Lowest price per kg, preferred by small and marginal
farmers.
- Multi-nutrient fertilizer containing P2O5 as primary
nutrient and Sulphur and Calcium as secondary nutrients.
- It is the cheapest source of Sulphur for the soil.
- Only phosphatic fertilizer which can utilize Indian
rock phosphate deposits.
- Least foreign exchange per unit of P2O5.
- Utilizes acid effluent from other chemical industry
and thus reduces nation's cost of effluent disposal.
After decontrol of fertilizers in
August 1992, the Government of India has been implementing
Concession Scheme for decontrolled phosphatic and potassic
(P&K) fertilizers. SSP is one the decontrolled fertilizers
covered under the Scheme. The administration of the
Concession Scheme was transferred from Department of
Agriculture and Co-operation (DAC) to Department of
Fertilizers (DOF) with effect from 1.10. 2000. During
the period of administration of the Scheme by DAC, 106
SSP units were listed under the Scheme. In addition,
requests from 10 units were under consideration of DAC
for induction under the Scheme.
The DOF, with a view to ensuring availability
of quality SSP to farmers and in order to minimize possibility
of sale of non-standard SSP to farmers, modified the
guidelines for the Scheme so as to promote use of specified
grades of rock phosphate purchased from notified sources
for manufacture of SSP. The Technical Audit and Inspection
Cell (TAC) constituted under the Scheme is required
to conduct first time and six-monthly inspections of
SSP manufacturers for ensuring usage of specified grades
of rock phosphate from sources notified by the DOF from
time to time. For achieving the underlying objective,
the Scheme initially provided for the facility of 80%
`On-account' payment to those manufacturers of SSP who
used specified grades of rock phosphate. For a more
effective control on outgo of concession on sales of
SSP as well as availability of quality SSP, under the
guidelines issued on 5.8.2002 for being eligible to
claim concession on sales of SSP the inspections by
Technical Audit and Inspection Cell (TAC) and use grades
of rock phosphate notified by the Department of Fertilizers
has been made mandatory. As on 1.1.03, total 66 SSP
units with an annual installed capacity of around 62.0
lakh MT are eligible to avail of the facility of claiming
concession under the Scheme on sales of SSP.
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