Food Security amid Uncertainty

Source: The post Food Security amid Uncertainty has been created, based on the article “Food security amid Uncertainty” published in “Indian Express” on 29 September 2025. Food Security amid Uncertainty.

UPSC Syllabus: GS-3- Issues of Buffer Stocks and Food Security.

Context: In today’s globalized environment, India’s food security is intricately linked to its energy and fertilizer supplies, making it vulnerable to external shocks such as geopolitical conflicts, supply chain disruptions, and volatile commodity prices.

Current Challenges

1. High Import Dependence: India produces almost 90% of its urea using imported natural gas which creates a high dependence on external energy sources.
   • The country imports large quantities of phosphoric acid and phosphatic fertilisers such as DAP, making its agriculture vulnerable to international supply fluctuations.
2. Geopolitical Risks: Ongoing geopolitical conflicts such as the Russia–Ukraine war, combined with sanctions and export restrictions in supplier countries, disrupt the global energy and fertiliser markets on which India relies.
   • Also, countries around the world are tightening their own export policies to prioritise domestic needs, which further threatens India’s supply security.
3. Economic Vulnerability: Sharp price spikes in fertilisers and energy inputs raise subsidy burdens and impact farmers’ input costs, threatening agricultural productivity and food affordability.

Recent Initiatives

1. Saudi Arabia and Morocco Engagements: India is exploring agreements to import three million tonnes of phosphatic fertilisers annually from Saudi Arabia and to develop joint ventures with Morocco’s OCP Group.
2. Domestic Capacity Building: Policy incentives have been taken for domestic exploration of natural gas and manufacturing of fertiliser intermediates. For eg. The Government of India is promoting public–private partnerships to strengthen domestic fertiliser production capacities.
3. Diplomatic efforts have been intensified to maintain global supply chains, as seen in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pitch at the UNGA to avoid trade wars and advocate open-door policies.

Strategic Partnerships as a Solution

1. Diversification of Sources: India needs to diversify its sources of gas, phosphoric acid, and rock phosphate to reduce overreliance on a few supplier countries.
2. Joint Ventures Abroad: Collaborating with countries like Morocco, which holds over 70% of the world’s phosphate reserves, can ensure a steady and reliable supply of critical inputs.
3. Long-term Contracts: India should secure long-term contracts and forward supply agreements for gas and fertilisers to protect itself from global price volatility and supply disruptions.

Benefits of Strategic Diplomacy

1. Supply Security: Strategic diplomacy ensures uninterrupted supplies of essential inputs such as gas, phosphoric acid, and rock phosphate, which strengthens India’s food security.
2. Price Stability: It reduces India’s vulnerability to global price shocks and stabilises fertiliser subsidies, thereby protecting farmers from high input costs.
3. Boost to Agricultural Productivity: Reliable and affordable input supply supports higher agricultural productivity, which helps maintain food affordability for consumers.
4. Economic Resilience: By reducing external vulnerabilities, strategic partnerships also shield India’s GDP growth and rural livelihoods from global economic shocks

Way Forward

1. India should build strategic reserves of critical fertilisers and raw materials to cushion against sudden disruptions in supply chains.
2. The government must develop indigenous technologies for fertiliser production and energy efficiency to reduce dependence on imports.
3. Public–private partnerships should be strengthened to secure overseas resources and establish joint ventures in the energy and fertiliser sectors.
4. Food security strategies should be integrated with energy and fertiliser diplomacy under a coordinated national policy.
5. Ministries dealing with agriculture and fertilisers should be empowered to negotiate long-term agreements with trusted countries to ensure uninterrupted supply.

Conclusion: Ensuring food security amid uncertainty requires India to look beyond domestic reforms and embrace strategic international partnerships. By diversifying its supply chains, investing in joint ventures, and negotiating long-term contracts with trusted partners, India can safeguard its agricultural backbone and sustain food security for its population.

Question: India’s food security is increasingly dependent on external supplies of energy and fertilisers. Discuss the challenges India faces in this regard and examine how strategic international partnerships can help ensure uninterrupted supplies.