New Delhi, Aug. 30 -- The government is turning its fertilizer management system into a more data-driven platform, linking sales with farmer, land and crop records and tracking supplies more closely from production to retail, according to the department of fertilizers. The aim of the Integrated Fertilizer Management System (iFMS) is to spot supply gaps and unusual buying patterns early, while bringing greater transparency in subsidy payouts.

Fertilizer subsidy remains one of the largest components of government's support to the farm sector, with the department's bill for India crossing Rs.2.17 trillion in fiscal year 2026 (FY26). Fertilizer subsidy accounts for nearly 38% of the government's total Rs.4.55 lakh crore subsidy bill budgeted...