18.19 lakh new workers enrolled under ESI in Jan month (See 'Corp Brief') Credit to women by PSBs - Substantial increase over last 5 years: MoS (See 'Corp Brief') A&C - If renewal of contract is based on criteria of performance, contract is deemed to have to been extended, if said criteria is met: HC (See 'Legal Desk') MeitY to host 'Nano Electronics Roadshow' at Bengaluru (See 'Corp Brief') IPR - Clear case of capitalizing on plaintiff's goodwill & reputation, by infringing products bearing plaintiffs trademark, calls for compensation and damage cost: HC (See 'Legal Desk') 12 Mines Successfully auctioned: Govt (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Commercial wisdom of Committee of Creditors (CoC) in rejecting resolution plan and opting for liquidation is 'non-justiciable': NCLAT (See 'Legal Desk') IICA launches Samarthya: National Competition on Corporate Rescue Strategies 2025 (See 'Corp Brief') NI Act - Cause of action u/s 138 arises only when amount remains unpaid even after expiry of fifteen days from date of receipt of demand notice: SC (See 'Legal Desk') APEDA facilitates export of Anthurium flowers from Mizoram to Singapore (See 'Corp Brief') Competition Act - Transaction is notifiable and by consummating same without filing notice u/s 6(2) of Act, GS is liable to penalty u/s 43A of Act: CCI (See 'Legal Desk') Goa Shipyard launches second P1135.6 frigate (See 'Corp Brief') IBC - Mere absence of option to purchase leased equipments vested in Corproate Debtor can not make financial lease as operational lease: NCLT (See 'Legal Desk') 'Building Climate-Resilient Future' symposium concludes with commitment to Action (See 'Corp Brief') Most prudent course of action is to direct company to refund money raised through IPO, if company relied on sham entity and participated in cover-up: SEBI (See 'Legal Desk') Indian Army organises Special Cataract Eye Surgery Camp for Ex-servicemen (See 'Corp Brief') Stock broker shall be liable for monetary penalty in respect of violations, inter-alia namely, extending use of trading terminal to any unauthorized person or place: SEBI (See 'Legal Desk') Change by Heraclitus and LODR Regulations (See 'Corp EINSICHT')

Potassium derived from Molasses can be used by farmers: Minister

Published: Feb 05, 2025

By TIOLCorplaws News Service

NEW DELHI, FEB 05, 2025: POTASSIUM Derived from Molasses (PDM) is a by-product of sugar industry. PDM has minimum 14.5% potash and can be used by farmers in field as an alternative to MOP (Muriate of Potash with 60% potash content). Thus, PDM can reduce the dependence on imported potash. PDM was notified under Fertilizer Control Order (1985) in 2009, and in order to incentivize the use of PDM, it was inducted under Nutrient Based Subsidy scheme since Rabi, 2022. During 2024-25, Rs. 345 per tonne of subsidy has been fixed for PDM.

Potash and Glauconite(Potassic mineral) have been classified as Critical and Strategic Minerals under "The Mines & Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment (MMDR) Act, 2023" by Ministry of Mines which aims to enhance domestic production and achieve self- sufficiency in critical minerals. MMDR Act, 1957 ensure that critical minerals are produced, processed, and recycled by catalyzing investments from governments and the private sector across the full value chain, emphasizing the importance of sustainable and responsible mineral management practices. The Central Government has also commenced the auction of mineral blocks for critical & strategic minerals as per provisions of MMDR Act, 1957. As on 10.12.2024, Ministry of Mines have successfully auctioned 5 mineral blocks of Glauconite(Potassic mineral).

Chemical sector is broadly de-regulated and delicensed sector. The manufacturing, import, export, transportation etc. of Ammonium Nitrate are being regulated by Ammonium Nitrate Rules, 2012. Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) issues licenses for manufacture, storage, transportation, import and export of Ammonium Nitrate under these rules. The licenses for manufacturing of Ammonium Nitrate are issued based on Industrial Licenses issued by Department of Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT).

 In Budget 2024-25, Basic Custom Duty (BCD) on Ammonium Nitrate has been increased from 7.5% to 10% to support existing and new capacities in pipeline. Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), Department of Commerce provides a level playing platform to the domestic industry against the adverse impact of the unfair trade practices viz. dumping, actionable subsidies, circumvention etc. from any exporting country by using effective Trade Remedial measures such as anti-dumping and safeguard measures. However, currently, there are no pending applications seeking  protection in terms of import barriers like anti-dumping duty or countervailing duty/anti-subsidy duty on Ammonium Nitrate.

The Government has approved the Market Development Assistance (MDA) @ Rs. 1500/MT to promote organic fertilizers, i.e. manure produced at plants under GOBARdhan initiative covering different Biogas/CBG support schemes/programmes of stakeholder Ministries/Departments such as Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), ‘Waste to Energy' programme of Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) of Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS), etc. with total outlay of Rs. 1451.84 crore (FY 2023-24 to 2025-26), which includes a corpus of Rs. 360 crore for research gap funding, etc.

Further, Institute of Pesticides Formulation and Technology works on supporting adoption of greener technologies and development of user & environment friendly new pesticide formulations. UNIDO FARM (Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management) Project undertaken by HIL (India) Ltd. to detoxify the agriculture sector by eliminating the use of highly hazardous pesticides and Persistent Organic Pollutants. The project focuses on three types of bio-pesticides: Btk (Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki), Neem, and Trichoderma spp. Btk, a strain of the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, which is e?ective for controlling caterpillar pests, while Neem controls a wide range of insect pests. Trichoderma provides e?ective control against soil-borne fungal diseases and enhances plant growth.

This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Anupriya Patel in Rajya Sabha in written reply to a question yesterday.

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