The BJP government has published an infographic on the 48-months portal that makes five claims about the access and availability of fertilizers. This article is a fact check of the claims The BJP government has published an infographic on the 48-months portal that makes five claims about the access and availability of fertilizers. This article is a fact check of the claims. Has 100% neem coating happened? What have the benefits been? The first claim is that ‘100% neem coating resulted in improvement in soil health, reduction in pest and disease attack.’ The annual report (2017-18) of the Department of Fertilizers states that ‘the Government in June 2008 had notified the policy for encouraging production and availability of fortified and coated fertilizers in the country wherein the indigenous manufacturers/producers of the subsidized fertilizers were allowed to produce fortified/coated subsidized fertilizers up to a maximum of 20% of their total production of respective subsidized fertilizers. This ceiling of production of Neem Coated Urea(NCU) was increased from the limit of 20% to a maximum of 35% of their total production in January 2011. Subsequently, in January 2015, Department of Fertilizers removed the cap/restriction to produce Neem Coated Urea and the indigenous producers of urea could produce up to maximum of their total production of subsidized urea. Subsequently in May 2015, it was made mandatory for all the indigenous producers of urea to produce 75% of their total production of subsidized urea as Neem Coated Urea and made effective from 1st April, 2015. Finally, based on the CCEA approval, Department of Fertilizers issued notification whereby it has been made mandatory for all the domestic producers of urea to produce 100% as Neem Coated Urea with an extra MRP of 5% (of Rs. 5360/- per MT) to be charged by the fertilizer manufacturing entities from farmers. Entire quantity of indigenously produced urea and imported urea is being neem coated from 1st September, 2015 and 1st December, 2015 respectively’. A response in Lok Sabha in January 2018 states that ‘ As per a notification in May 2015, Department of Fertilizers has made it mandatory for all the indigenous producers of urea to produce 100% of their total production of subsidized urea as Neem Coated Urea (NCU). Entire quantity of indigenously produced urea and imported urea is being neem coated’. The annual report (2017-18) of the Department of Fertilizers states also states that ‘the Neem Coated Urea has received high acceptance among the farmers considering its benefits on soil fertility/conservation, higher yield pest control’. This still does not provide any conclusive proof of whether the neem coating has had any impact on soil health, pests and disease attacks. Claim: 100% neem coating resulted in improvement in soil health, reduction in pest and disease attack. Fact: It is true that through a notification in May 2015, Department of Fertilizers has made it mandatory for all the indigenous producers of urea to produce 100% of their total production of subsidized urea as Neem Coated Urea (NCU). However, the impacts of this are not yet published by any government report/source. Moreover, successive governments (starting with UPA 1) have progressively increased the limit of neem coating on subsidized urea. Hence, the 100% mandatory part is TRUE while the impacts remain UNVERIFIED. Has there been an increase in nitrogen use efficiency and crop yield? The second claim is that ‘there has been an increased nitrogen use efficiency and increased crop yield due to neem coated urea’. The annual report (2017-18) of the Department of Fertilizers states that ‘due to its slow release of Nitrogen, the Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) of Neem Coated Urea increases resulting in reduced consumption of NCU as compared to Normal urea’. As is the case of the previous claim, there is no other data available in the public domain to verify the increase in crop yield or nitrogen use efficiency. Claim: There has been an increased nitrogen use efficiency and increased crop yield due to neem coated urea Fact: The Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) of Neem Coated Urea increases resulting in reduced consumption of NCU. However, data regarding increased crop yield because of this is not available. Hence, the claim remains UNVERIFIED. Is there a special banking arrangement to clear fertilizer subsidy dues? The third claim is that ‘special banking arrangement of Rs. 10,000 crores to clear fertilizer subsidy dues’. To clear outstanding subsidy claims of urea & fertilizer manufacturers, governments have followed varied methods. The UPA-1 government issued fertilizer bonds (similar to oil bonds) to clear outstanding subsidy.