[Answered] India has a long-pending target of achieving self-sufficiency in urea but remains unfulfilled. Discuss the measures that can help in achieving the target. How will the use of nano urea be useful in this?

Currently, the global prices of Urea have soared to new highs and its availability has dwindled due to the Russian-Ukraine conflict and export cuts by China and other countries. The fertiliser subsidy in the current fiscal year is projected to exceed Rs 2.5 trillion, surpassing last fiscal year’s record. India will not need to import urea by 2025-end as the domestic production of conventional urea and nano liquid urea is expected to be sufficient to meet the country’s annual demand.
Measures:

• Neem-coating makes it more difficult for black marketers to divert urea to industrial consumers.
• Neem-coating also benefits farmers by reducing nitrogen losses from the soil by providing greater nutrient to the crop. As a result, farmers need less urea to achieve the same effect.
• There is need to extend the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) model to urea and allow for price rationalisation of urea compared to non-nitrogenous fertilizers and prices of crops
• Develop alternative sources of nutrition for plants.
• Discussions with farmers and consumers should be done to shift towards the use of non-chemical fertilizers.
• Bring parity in prices and subsidy given to chemical fertilizers with organic and biofertilizers.

Nano-Urea is a new-generation urea, which condenses one bag equivalent of urea into a tiny bottle of 500 ml liquid. The cooperative sector fertiliser giant, IFFCO is pioneering and promoting nano-urea technology. Following are the benefits of nano- urea:

• Studies have shown that while nutrient consumption by plants is only 25-30% in the case of conventional fertilisers, it rises to 90% for nano products. This helps in pushing up crop yields perceptibly.
• Additionally, the use of nano urea helps reduce the soil, air, and water pollution attributable to chemical fertilisers. It is also safe for humans, flora and fauna.
• The use of nano urea will reduce the transportation cost and will benefit small farmers immensely.
• The government will save foreign exchange of about Rs 40,000 crore per annum due to a reduction in imports.
• Due to targeted foliage application, there is no wastage of nano urea.

India should pay attention to improving urea efficiency through need-based use. The need of the hour is that agriculture departments and universities not just revisit their existing crop-wise nutrient application recommendations, but also propagate this information to farmers on a campaign mode.