Page 188 - CW E-Magazine (3-10-2023)

Special Report Special Report

Initiatives for farmers also to make these bio-gas and compost services in a better way. The Hon’ble more NPK complexes, which offer
bio-gas plants viable.
Prime Minister visited a PMKSK deve-
not only a wider range of products to
loped by National Fertilisers Ltd. at farmers, but also ensure balanced nutri-
mong the key inputs such as ent and a key component of amino ARVIND CHAUDHARY Slow release N fertilisers Sikar on July 27, 2023 and dedicated tion.
fertilisers, high yielding variety acids, which form the building blocks of Use effi ciency of N applied through 1.25-lakh PMKSKs to the Nation.
Aseeds, irrigation water and plant proteins and enzymes. More than Director General urea is less than 35% in waterlogged 4Rs of nutrient stewardship
Fertiliser Association of India
pesticides, use of fertilisers is the 80% of the N requirement of crops in Email: dg@faidelhi.org rice cultivation and less than 50% in Security of supply Fertilisers are plant food and con-
most important for agricultural deve- the country is met by urea alone. Rea- other upland crops. Products such as The Union Minister for Chemi- tain the ionic forms of nutrients, which
lopment for any country of the world. lising its importance, the CCEA one more likely to commence pro- neem-coated urea, sulphur-coated urea, cals & Fertilisers and Health & Family the plant roots are capable of absorb-
It has been reported in the literature that approved continuation of urea subsidy duction in 2024-25, along with use of slow release N fertilisers, and nitrifi ca- Welfare has shown farsightedness in ing. However, adoption of 4Rs of nutri-
50% increase in agriculture production scheme to ensure availability of urea nano urea. tion inhibitors have been reported to ensuring fertiliser supply during the ent stewardship, i.e., right source, right
is on account of fertiliser use. Same at the existing maximum retail price enhance nitrogen use effi ciency. crisis precipitated by the Russian- rate, right time and right place, is essen-
is the case with India. The increase in of Rs. 242 per 45-kg bag, exclusive Restoring fertility of the soil through Ukraine war. As already mentioned, tial for getting better net returns from
food grains production from 1951-52 of GST and neem-coating charges. A balanced and sustainable use of Realising their importance, Govern- India is import-dependent to meet its applied fertilisers.
to 2022-23 with increase in use of package of Rs. 368,676.7-crore has fertilisers ment of India made 100% coating requirement of fertilisers, and raw mate-
fertilisers are testimony to the fact that been committed for the urea subsidy Another scheme related to the PM of urea with neem mandatory effective rials used for production of fertilisers. All stakeholders need to educate
enhanced application of fertilisers has scheme for three years, i.e., from Programme for Restoration, Awareness May 25, 2015. The other initiative of The Government has forged long-term farmers on adoption of these 4Rs of
played pivotal role in ensuring food 2022-23 to 2024-25. Generation, Nourishment and Amelio- the package is to introduce sulphur- agreements and created joint ventures nutrient stewardship. Further, the bal-
security of the country. Such relation- ration of Mother-Earth (PM PRANAM) coated urea (Urea Gold), a technology with resource-rich nations. Industry anced use of fertilisers on the concept
ship between the two will continue to Increased fertiliser subsidy was also approved by the CCEA. developed by Rashtriya Chemicals and has been encouraged to set up overseas of 4Rs stewardship, along w ith organic
be so in future also. In view of COVID-19 and the geo- To restore fertility of Mother Earth, Fertilisers Ltd. (RCFL). Use of Urea joint ventures to secure raw materials. manures, bio-fertilisers, nano-urea, re-
political situation, there had been multi- the emerging need is to promote Gold will result in better use-effi ciency Joint venture plants have been set up in cycling of organic wastes, etc. will go
Fertiliser companies have been fold spurt in prices of fi nished fertiliser balanced and sustainable use of fertili- of applied N and also address the prob- some countries with buy-back agree- a long way in improving soil health and
playing signifi cant role in ensuring products and raw materials used for sers along with organic manures, alter- lem of sulphur defi ciency as 41% of ments and assured offtake agreements farm productivity.
availability of fertilisers to the farmers production of fertilisers. However, in native fertilisers, nano-fertilisers, bio- Indian soils are defi cient in sulphur. for the supply of rock phosphate and
at every nook and corner of such its endeavour to protect the farmers fertilisers, etc. Production of Urea Gold may com- phosphoric acid. The package schemes, the efforts
a large country having geographical from any hike in MRPs of fertilisers, mence shortly. of Department of Fertilisers and the
area of about 329-mha (million hect- Government of India increased the fer- It was announced in the Union The Government has also encour- fertiliser companies will continue to
are) with net cultivated area of nearly tiliser subsidy considerably in 2020-21, Budget for 2023-24 that PM PRANAM Wider role for PMKSKs aged the domestic industry and public ensure fertilisers and other diversifi ed
140-mha. Towards this, meticulous 2021-22 and 2022-23 to the extent of will be launched to incentivise States/Union For the convenience of the farmers, sector undertakings to sign long-term products are available to the farmers to
planning is in place for production of Rs. 127,922-crore, Rs. 153,758-crore Territories to promote alternative ferti- retail shops are being converted to agreements for the import of raw mate- improve farm productivity on a sustain-
fertilisers, import of raw materials and and Rs. 225,222-crore, respectively. lisers and balanced use of fertilisers. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samrudhi Kendras rials/intermediates such as ammonia, able basis.
fi nished products, and logistics opera- The Budget Estimate for the current Market development assistance scheme (PMKSKs) to provide farm inputs phosphoric acid, and sulphur. These
tions. year is Rs. 175,103-crore. in the form of Rs. 1,500 per tonne was under one roof and cater to all needs initiatives have enabled India to diver- [Indian Journal of Fertilisers, 19(8),
approved to support marketing of liq- of farmers, inclusive of farm advisory sify its product portfolio and produce 722-723, August 2023]
To give fi llip to agricultural deve- Promotion of nano-urea uid/fermented organic manures, phos-
lopment on sustainable basis and The CCEA has also approved phate-rich organic manures produced
economic betterment of farmers, Govern- strengthening of the nano urea eco- as by-product from bio-gas plants/
ment of India has been announc- system. IFFCO has developed a nano- compost bio-gas plants set up under the
ing schemes. The meeting of the based technology and developed nano- umbrella of the Gobardhan initiative.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Af- urea (liquid) and recently nano-DAP The brand for such organic fertilisers
fairs (CCEA), held on June 28, 2023, (liquid). Coromandel International will be Bharat.
chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Ltd. has also developed nano-DAP
approved a unique package of innova- (liquid). Eight nano-urea plants with The scheme is expected to address
tive schemes for farmers with a budget production capacity of 44 crore bottles the on-going issue of management
of Rs. 370,128.7-crore. of 500-ml each, will be commissioned of crop residues and stubble (Parali)
by 2025-26. burning, in addition to providing addi-
Initiatives of N fertilisers tional income to farmers. The initiative
Among the 17 essential nutrients The country may become atmanirbhar will facilitate the establishing of 500 Mrs. Usha S. - usha@hpicindia.com
for normal growth of plants, nitrogen in urea by 2025-26 with six new new waste-to-wealth plants announced
(N) is the most essential primary nutri- urea units already in production and in the Union Budget for 2023-24 and

188 Chemical Weekly October 3, 2023 Chemical Weekly October 3, 2023 189

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