Introduction:
India has the largest area under farming globally, with 169.3 million hectares (mh) of land used for crop cultivation in 2019, surpassing the US (160.4 mh), China (135.7 mh), Russia (123.4 mh), and Brazil (63.5 mh).
Blessed with perennial Himalayan rivers and an average annual rainfall of nearly 1,200 mm, India has abundant land, water, and sunshine to sustain vibrant agriculture for over 3,000 years.
However, India faces a significant shortage of mineral fertilizers and relies heavily on imports. In 2021-22, India imported 10.16 million tonnes (mt) of urea, 5.86 mt of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), and 2.91 mt of muriate of potash (MOP), with the total value of fertilizer imports reaching an all-time high of $12.77 billion.
Body:
Reasons for High Costs of Fertilizers:
- Subsidy Burden: Indian farmers pay below the import or manufacturing cost of fertilizers, with the government covering the difference as a subsidy.
- Costlier Raw Material: India is 90% dependent on imports for rock phosphate, a key raw material for DAP and NPK fertilizers.
- Lack of Natural Resources: The primary feedstock for urea, natural gas, is insufficiently available domestically.
- International Oil Price Fluctuations: Rising oil prices adversely impact fertilizer costs.
- Geopolitical Factors: Trade disruptions like the Russia-Ukraine war contribute to rising fertilizer prices.
- Misuse and Overuse: Excessive use of fertilizers further exacerbates the cost burden.
Measures to Reduce the Burden:
- Cap or Reduce Consumption of High-Analysis Fertilizers: Incorporate urease and nitrification inhibition compounds in urea to make more nitrogen available to crops, reducing the need for multiple urea bags.
- Promote Liquid “Nano Urea”: Nano urea’s ultra-small particle size allows easier absorption by plants, enhancing nitrogen use efficiency.
- Example: Neem coated urea.
- Implement Soil Health Cards: These can help restrict the overuse of fertilizers.
- Encourage High Nutrient Use-Efficient Water-Soluble Fertilizers: Promote fertilizers like potassium nitrate, potassium sulphate, and calcium nitrate, and explore alternative indigenous sources such as potash from seaweed extract.
- Popularize Single Super Phosphate (SSP) and Complex Fertilizers: Increase the use of SSP (containing 16% P and 11% S) and complex fertilizers such as “20:20:0:13” and “10:26:26”.
- Promote Zero-Based and Organic Farming: Encourage sustainable farming practices to reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers.
Conclusion:
To mitigate the economic burden of fertilizer imports, India must focus on improving fertilizer efficiency through need-based use and increasing investment in new fertilizer plants. Promoting sustainable agricultural practices and innovative solutions like nano urea can significantly contribute to this goal.