[Answered] India needs strategic partnerships to secure its fertiliser supply. Examine the necessity of such global alliances for ensuring food security and the long-term sustainability of Indian agriculture.

Introduction

India’s agriculture sustains 1.45 billion people, yet depends on imports for 90% urea feedstock gas, 70% phosphate, and 100% potash. Strategic global partnerships are essential to ensure food security and sustainable agricultural growth.

Fertiliser Dependence: The Critical Challenge

1. India is the second-largest fertiliser consumer globally (~61 million tonnes, 2023-24).
2. Import reliance: 90% natural gas for urea production. 70% phosphate (Morocco, Saudi Arabia). 100% potash (Belarus, Canada).
3. Subsidy burden: Fertiliser subsidy crossed ₹2.5 lakh crore in FY23 (Economic Survey 2023), making global price shocks highly destabilising.

Necessity of Strategic Partnerships

1. Food Security Link: Green Revolution gains were fertiliser-driven; sustaining yields requires assured supply chains. Any disruption risks inflation, farmer distress, and political instability.
2. Global Alliances mitigate risks from:
3. Geopolitical shocks (Russia-Ukraine war disrupted potash and ammonia supply). Tariff wars (US tariffs on India’s pharma/H-1B linked indirectly to trade pressure). Energy dependencies (Middle Eastern LNG pricing affects urea).

 Morocco: A Case for Phosphate Security

1. Morocco controls ~70% of global phosphate rock reserves (USGS, 2024).
2. Strategic potential: Joint ventures with OCP Group for DAP, TSP, SSP production. Example: Paradeep Phosphates Ltd. – Indo-Moroccan collaboration. Tata Advanced Systems’ defence plant in Morocco shows trust-based industrial partnership.
3. Technical sustainability: Switching from DAP to TSP + Urea balances soil nutrients, reducing nitrogen overuse and soil degradation.

Diversifying Sources: Beyond Morocco

1. Saudi Arabia: Agreement for 3 million tonnes phosphate annually (2025). But security risks exist due to its defence ties with Pakistan.
2. Russia & Belarus: Major potash suppliers but sanctions pose uncertainty.
3. Canada: A stable partner for potash, though freight costs are higher.
4. Qatar, UAE: Reliable LNG suppliers for urea feedstock.
5. Africa (Mozambique, Nigeria): Opportunities for joint ventures in natural gas and ammonia production.

Sustainability & Long-term Measures

1. Nutrient-based Subsidy (NBS) reform: Encourages balanced fertiliser use, preventing urea overuse.
2. Alternative technologies: Nano-urea (IFFCO claims 50% reduction in urea need), biofertilisers, and organic manures.
3. Circular Economy: Phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge and waste streams.
4. Soil Health Management Scheme: Promotes crop-specific nutrient application, reducing dependency on imports.
5. Global examples: Brazil invested in Morocco for phosphate security. China has locked-in long-term potash contracts with Canada, securing resilience.

Critical Analysis

1. Pros of alliances: Ensure steady supply, technology transfer, reduce volatility.
2. Risks: Overdependence on politically unstable regions (West Asia, North Africa).
3. Way Forward: Balanced strategy  long-term contracts, joint ventures, domestic exploration, R&D in alternatives, diversification of partners.

Conclusion

As M.S. Swaminathan’s National Commission on Farmers stressed, “sustainable food security requires assured inputs.” Global fertiliser alliances are thus indispensable to safeguard India’s agriculture, economy, and long-term soil health.