India's fertiliser subsidy bill is projected to increase by 20% for the current financial year, primarily due to rising prices influenced by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. According to Aparna Sharma, an official from the fertiliser ministry, India has placed orders for a record 2.5 million metric tons of urea, which is nearly double the price paid just two months prior. This surge in imports, which constitutes about a quarter of India's annual fertiliser imports, is expected to tighten global supply and further elevate prices. The country's fertiliser subsidy for the financial year ending in March 2024 is estimated at approximately 1.87 trillion rupees (around $19.85 billion USD). With the Middle East supplying about half of India's urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) imports, the crisis is likely to have a lasting impact on import costs and subsidies for farmers, who rely on affordable crop nutrients. As demand typically spikes in June and July for crops like rice, corn, and cotton, the implications of these rising costs could be significant for agricultural production in India.