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'Cut usage to rein in fertiliser scarcity'

C H Prashanth Reddy / Hyderabad June 19 The current fertiliser scarcity in the country and the mounting subsidy bill, which is expected to reach Rs 95,000 crore this year, can be partly solved by checking "injudicious usage" of the agricultural input and reducing imports by 20 per cent, feel manufacturers and experts. Reducing the availability of urea in various states by 2 million tonnes (MT) alone will result in savings of Rs 4,000 crore, say fertiliser manufacturers.