New Delhi : The government paid close to Rs one lakh crore towards fertiliser subsidy in 2008-09, more than double compared to previous fiscals, mainly on account of rise in prices of farm nutrient in international markets, Parliament was informed on March 12.

"The amount of subsidy released by Department of Fertilisers during 2008-09 was Rs 99,494.71 crore, whereas it was Rs 43,319.16 crore during 2007-08," Fertilisers Minister Srikant Kumar Jena told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply. Jena said that the subsidy outgo on fertilisers increased substantially during the past few years mainly due to the rise in international prices of fertilisers and inputs and only 6 per cent because of increase in consumption.