Page 186 - CW E-Magazine (20-8-2024)

Special Report Special Report

Towards self-reliance in fertiliser availability using mix energy should also be given Reasonable profi tability issue there seems to be limited scope to
The issue of reasonableness of derive K from seawater.
special dispensation.

Growth in agriculture from the era of policy initiatives taken and means need to be inplace towards MRP/profi t for P&K fertiliser sector has
griculture is a vital sector of in late 1970s. The sector has fully sup- self-reliance in production of fertilisers Phosphatic fertilisers been under discussion with the Depart- There are deposits of about 1,900-mt
the Indian economy. It contri- ported Indian agriculture, transforming in meeting the demand of the farmers In case of phosphatic fertilisers, ment of Fertilisers for quite some time. of glauconite, primarily in the states
Abutes about 18% to GDP. the country from a situation of ship-to- from indigenous sources. production of P O was 4.88-mt in The policy issued by the Department of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar
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There has been phenomenal growth in mouth to achieving food security for its 2023-24, against the consumption of in November 2019 is also under dis- Pradesh and Gujarat. Glauconite is an
agriculture in the country after evolu- ever-increasing population. The country Effi cient plant operations 8.3-mt. The operating installed capacity cussion. There are several issues in the iron-potassium silicate (clay mineral)
tion of fertiliser-responsive high yield- is also exporting a number of agri- The fertiliser plants are one of the of P O is 7.38-mtpa. Excluding SSP, calculation methodology for arriving at embedded in what is called greensand
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ing varieties (HYV) of wheat and rice cultural produces. best in the world in terms of energy capacity utilisation of P O through reasonable profi tability. As the plants rock. It contains 5-8.5% K O, in addi-
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in the late1960s, followed by other effi ciency, water conservation, environ- other sources is nearly 76%. For SSP, are getting older, surplus is needed to tion to iron, magnesium and a host of
crops. This is evinced from the fact that India is now the second-largest con- mental compliance and safety. With it is less than 40%. invest in reliable operation and safety of micronutrients.
production of wheat and rice increased sumer and producer of fertilisers in the commissioning of new urea plants, plant and equipment. Further, as men-
from 11.39-mt and 30.44-mt during world. The population will continue to production of urea has reached a level Import dependency in case of phos- tioned earlier, capacity utilisation in the Other K sources such as polyhalite
1966-67 to 112.93-mt and 136.7-mt rise. The potential of HYV crops can- of 31.41-mt in 2023-24. There has been phatic fertilisers can be minimized con- P&K sector has suffered due to high and sylvite are also there.
during 2023-24, respectively. Same is not be realised fully without use of 7.1% reduction in imports of urea in siderably, provided capacity utilisation dependence on imported raw materials
the story of other fi eld crops. Produc- fertilisers. The other sources of plant 2023-24, compared to 2022-23. With is improved. However, raw materials/ and fi nished products. Therefore, there Therefore, indigenous sources of
tion of horticultural crops, comprising nutrients can only supplement nutrient commissioning of one more plant dur- intermediates such as rock phosphate, is a need to have free MRPs of P&K potash minerals need to be explored for
of fruits and vegetables, also showed requirements of HYV crops. Therefore, ing 2024-25, import dependency on phosphoric acid, ammonia and sulphur fertilisers as per basic tenets of the use by farmers wherever, feasible.
rapid strides during the period and pro- more impetus to enhance fertiliser con urea will further be reduced. are mainly imported for production Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) policy.
duction of these crops reached a level of sumption is of paramount importance to of phosphatic fertilisers. The prices Reforms needed
352.2-mt in 2023-24 as per the Second meet the food and nutritional need of a The Government should recognize of such commodities are manipulated Augmenting potash availability Fertiliser industry remains vital to
Advance Estimates. burgeoning population. the legitimate elements of cost of pro- by few dominant players in the world India does not have any commercial agriculture productivity but operates
duction of urea under the pricing and to the disadvantage of India. To tide proven potash reserves. Entire demand under a most controlled regime.
In spite of various challenges, to be The fertiliser sector has been play- subsidy policy, and formulater ealistic over the problems, Indian companies of K has to be met by import. Reforms in the fertiliser sector is neces-
addressed amicably by all stakeholders ing a pivotal role in making fertilisers energy norms from 2025-26, consi- have already set up joint ventures in sary in the interest of Indian agriculture
for further growth, the growth inagri- available to a large number of farmers dering energy effi ciency, vintage, energy phosphate-rich countries such as Jordan, Import of Muriate of Potash (MoP) and domestic production.
culture is astounding by any yardstick spread over a geographical area of about mix, investment, fi xed and variable Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and touched 6.36-mt in 2010-11, when
so far. 329 million ha. The sector has also been costs. Morocco. The Government needs to NBS policy on P&K fertilisers was Fertilisers are plant food and farmers
a conduit towards reimbursement of facilitate more such ventures abroad for implemented effective from 1st April should make use of them sensibly. Use
Indispensable fertilisers subsidy to the fertiliser industry by Rationalisation of policy needed P&K fertilisers. 2010, for direct use in soil and manu- effi ciency of fertiliser is low, more so of
Use of fertiliser is indispensable for the Government on behalf of the farmers Industry has provided about 4.0-mt facture of NPK complexes. Thereafter, nitrogen. With the introduction of 100%
agriculture development. It has been for administrative convenience for the additional production beyond reassessed Use of indigenous rock phosphate, imports varied from 1.87-mt in 2022- neem-coated urea and development of
well documented that 50% increase in last 47 years. capacity after debottlenecking plants with proper benefi ciation technology, 23 to 4.20-mt in 2014-15. However, it sulphur-coated urea, better nitrogen use
agricultural production is on account and huge investment. Rationalisation should be given more emphasis to showed a considerable improvement of effi ciency, compared to normal urea, has
of fertiliser use. The fertiliser sector Therefore, role of the fertiliser sec- of policy for production beyond the enhance production of SSP. Use of 53.8% in 2023-24 over 2022-23. been achieved. Use of alternate fertili-
inthe country has come a long way tor cannot beover-emphasized. Ways reassessed capacity is needed to make this phosphate-rich organic manure having sers like biofertiliser, organic fertilisers,
production viable. 8% P O should also be encouraged. Joint ventures for sustainable sup- biomass, nano fertilisers, etc. help to
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ply of MoP at reasonable price for pro- improve soil condition and supplement
All urea plants are now using Tax reforms duction of P&K fertilisers are needed. use of conventional fertilisers.
natural gas as feedstock. However, there The P&K sector is facing issue of
is not enough gas available in the coun- accumulation of input tax credit due to Government has brought potash While industry is making all out
try. More than 80% requirement of gas inverted duty structure. There is 5% GST derived from molasses (PDM) – being efforts to optimise production of fertilisers
is met by imported liquefi ed natural gas on fertilisers, rock phosphate and sul- generated from processing of sugarcane – at low cost, Government should extend
(LNG). There have been uncertainties phur and 18% on ammonia and sulphuric under the NBS policy. Good quantity a helping hand, not only in the interest
in prices and availability of LNG from acid. In the 53rd GST Council meeting, of K O can be sourced from PDM of self-reliance in fertiliser production,
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time to time. Being a vital sector for the matter was discussed, and the Coun- after tapping its full potential. Research but even in the long-term economic and
agriculture development, fertiliser sec- cil has referred the issue to the Group of and development initiatives to recover strategic interests of the country.
tor should be given preference when it Ministers on rate rationalisation. It is ear- MoP or sulphate of potash (SoP) from
comes to allocation of domestic gas. In nestly hoped that there will be an early seawater has also been developed by [Indian Journal of Fertilisers, 20
view of economical production, plants and sustainable resolution of this issue. one of the government laboratories, but (7): 638-639, July 2024].

186 Chemical Weekly August 20, 2024 Chemical Weekly August 20, 2024 187

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