New Delhi: India expects fertilizer consumption to be lower during the kharif sowing season in view of the IMD’s below-normal monsoon forecast, a top government official said on Monday. He said that the demand for urea is now estimated at 190 lakh tonnes as against the earlier estimate of 194 lakh tonnes.Demand for diammonium phosphate (DAP) – another key soil nutrient – ​​has been reduced to 60 lakh tonnes from the earlier estimate of 66 lakh tonnes.Aparna Sharma, Additional Secretary, Department of Fertilizers, said that in view of the El Nino effect, the department had requested the Agriculture Ministry to re-evaluate the requirements. He said that the Ministry has informed about the reduction in demand for urea and DAP on the basis of regular interaction with the states.The official also said the government has issued a second global tender to import 17 lakh tonnes of urea despite a sharp rise in global prices to boost domestic supplies for the Kharif season. Sharma said that the global price of urea has increased from $ 447 per tonne to $ 947 per tonne in February.Meanwhile, Consumer Affairs and Food Department officials said there is surplus stock of rice, wheat and pulses to meet domestic demand and market intervention.Anupam Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, said the government has a buffer stock of pulses of about 43 lakh tonnes, which is more than double the stock recorded in May 2025.He said production of major horticultural crops like potato, tomato and onion is sufficient to meet domestic demand – potato production is 584 lakh tonnes as against 586 lakh tonnes in the last crop year; Tomato 227 lakh tonnes as against last year’s 205 lakh tonnes; And onion is 273 lakh tonnes as against last year’s 307 lakh tonnes.The government has also set a target of creating a buffer stock of 2 lakh tonnes of onion in 2026-27.Food department officials said that as of May 2026, the wheat stock in the central pool stood at 513 lakh tonnes, almost double the buffer standard set for July 1. Wheat procurement during the current Rabi marketing season has reached about 350 lakh tonnes and the procurement operation is continuing till June 30.Rice stock in the central pool stands at 397 lakh tonnes, almost three times the buffer stock required for July 1.