Page 185 - CW E-Magazine (14-1-2025)

Special Report

price volatility forced India to look for during fi rst six months of 2024-25. One Curbing GHG emissions during
alternative sources of fertilisers and more urea plant is under construction, application of fertilisers
sustainability in agriculture. which will be able to further contribute to The concerns raised about the GHG
domestic production in 2025. emissions from application of fertilisers
The domestic P&K industry has been can be mitigated by adopting practices
supporting the demand, but not able to Curbing greenhouse gas emissions in like precision agriculture, balance fertili-
fully utilise existing capacity due to poor fertiliser production sation, digitalisation, etc. Improving soil
viability. Single super phosphate (SSP) Fertiliser production and use also health would also help in sequestration of
fertiliser, which is manufactured indi- generate greenhouse gases (GHGs). Pro- carbon. However, focussed research is re-
genously, has been suffering due to higher duction process have been revamped/ quired to develop technologies enhancing
cost and low realisation. Sustainable retrofi tted to improve effi ciency & reli- carbon sequestration by soil as well metho-
efforts in enhancing domestic phosphatic ability, along with measures to reduce dology to estimate the same. Investment
fi nished products would entail promo- emissions. Effectively, carbon dioxide is required for capacity building in terms
tion and application of alternative ferti- emissions from ammonia-urea plants of infrastructure and human resource.
lisers like Nano-DAP and phosphate-rich have reduced by almost 47% in last 36 Extension services are the important link
organic manure to supplement the years. Further, Government of India has between the industry and the farmers.
demand. been promulgating use of renewable They have to play an active role to pro-
energy and green hydrogen & ammonia. mote balance fertilisation and adoption of
Government has launched schemes The policy envisages replacement of latest technologies and digital agriculture
such as PM-PRANAM to encourage imported grey ammonia with green. for sustainable agricultural practices.
use of alternative fertilisers. As a long- About 30% of the import requirement is
term measure, exploration/exploitation expected to be replaced in the initial Notwithstanding the challenges, the
of phosphate minerals from the existing phase starting 2027-28. industry has been responsibly making
mines needs to be accelerated. Indian fertilisers available for use by farmers
mines are having low-grade phosphate Green ammonia is not viable as a across the country over last seven decades
reserves. Technologies for utilising low- feedstock at present due to its high cost, through meticulous planning of produc-
grade phosphate to produce phosphoric and would need time before it becomes tion and import. There are some policy
acid, which can be utilised to produce economical without fi scal support. Till related issues for urea and phosphatic
customized and low analysis fertilisers, such time, natural gas can be a transient sectors, which are under consideration of
needs to be incentivized. fuel towards green economy. The govern- the government. Industry looks forward
ment has also been promoting natural gas to amicable resolution to make domestic
The New Investment Policy 2012 as cleaner fuel and aims to increase its production viable in the long-run and
resulted in six new urea plants adding share in energy basked from 6% to 15% effectively contribute to supply of fertili-
a cumulative capacity of 7.6-mtpa. The by 2030. Accordingly, a few urea pro- sers to farmers on a sustainable manner.
additional capacity has resulted in reduc- jects based on natural gas can be planned,
tion in import of urea. During 2023-24, which can help in meeting domestic [Indian Journal of Fertilisers, 20 (12):
import of urea was 7.0-mt and at 2.5-mt requirement in a sustainable manner. 1182-1183, December 2024]

Mrs. Usha S. - usha@hpicindia.com

Chemical Weekly January 14, 2025 185

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