The Cabinet has approved the proposals of fertilizers Department for fixation of rates of Nutrient Based Subisdy, NBS for next fiscal. It has approved per Kilogram NBS rates of fertilizer nutrients – Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potash and Sulphur for the next financial year 2012-13.At the announced rate, total subsidy outgo for Potash and Phosphate fertilizers for the financial year 2012-13 will be reduced by more than 20 percent. An official press release said that the total subsidy outgo for Potash and Phosphate will depend on the overall consumption of fertilizers in next financial year. All farmers in the country will be the beneficiaries. The new rates will be effective from April 1. AIR correspondent reports that the decision is to make Phosphate and Potash fertilizers available at a price lower than the delivered cost. These subsidised fertilizers will be available to all the farmers of the country. It is expected that farmers will make optimum use of fertilizers in order to increase the productivity of soil. In another decision, the Cabinet approved the proposal of Ministry of Agriculture for extension of closing date of National Agricultural Innovation Project, NAIP upto 30th June, 2014. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA has approved the proposal of The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today sanctioned the acquisition of two 500 passenger cum 150 ton cargo vessels for inter island sector for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It will meet the increased passenger traffic requirements of people of the islands. The cost of vessel will be around 391 crore rupees.