{"id":361090,"date":"2026-04-18T19:36:47","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T14:06:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=361090"},"modified":"2026-04-18T19:36:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T14:06:47","slug":"strategies-to-enhance-fertilizer-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/strategies-to-enhance-fertilizer-security\/","title":{"rendered":"Strategies to enhance fertilizer security"},"content":{"rendered":"

UPSC Syllabus: Gs Paper 3- Agriculture<\/strong><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n

India\u2019s fertilizer security is under strain due to heavy dependence on imports<\/strong>, especially from the Gulf for LNG, ammonia, sulphur, urea, and DAP. The system is further stressed by excessive reliance on urea for nitrogen use, rising demand, and limited domestic production growth<\/strong>. This has widened the supply gap and increased vulnerability. A comprehensive strategy focusing on domestic capacity, balanced nutrient use, efficiency improvement, and policy reforms<\/strong> is essential to ensure long-term fertilizer security.<\/p>\n

Major Issues with India\u2019s Fertiliser Sector<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. High import dependence:<\/strong> India depends on imports for ~70% of fertilisers and feedstocks, exposing it to global risks.<\/li>\n
  2. Dependence on imported gas for urea production:<\/strong>Domestic urea production relies on ~85% imported gas, increasing vulnerability.<\/li>\n
  3. Excessive use of urea:<\/strong> Farmers use more than required urea, leading to imbalance.<\/li>\n
  4. Distorted pricing system: <\/strong>Urea is sold at < $70\/tonne while global price is ~$795\/tonne, causing inefficient use and diversion.<\/li>\n
  5. Diversion and misuse:<\/strong> Low prices create arbitrage opportunities, leading to use in non-agricultural sectors and smuggling.<\/li>\n
  6. Low Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE):<\/strong> Granular urea has only 35\u201340% efficiency, leading to wastage of nutrients.<\/li>\n
  7. Environmental and health impact:<\/strong> Excess use of nitrogen fertilisers leads to release of nitrous oxide, which is 273 times more harmful than CO<\/strong>\u2082 and also contaminates groundwater with nitrates, causing diseases like blue baby syndrome, thyroid problems, and diabetes<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  8. Policy bias against efficient fertilisers:<\/strong> Liquid urea has ~90% NUE but is not subsidised, showing irrational policy.<\/li>\n
  9. Inefficient fertiliser composition<\/strong>: DAP contains 18% nitrogen along with 46% phosphorus, worsening nitrogen overuse.<\/li>\n
  10. Lack of TSP production<\/strong>: No domestic production of TSP with 46% phosphorus, despite need for balanced fertilisation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Government Initiatives and Progress<\/strong><\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS):<\/strong> Provides fixed subsidy on P (Phosphorus) and K (Potassium) fertilisers and allows price flexibility for companies.<\/li>\n
    2. Fertiliser subsidy support: <\/strong>The total fertiliser subsidy was raised to \u20b91,91,836 crore, reflecting strong government support to protect farmers from global price rise.<\/li>\n
    3. Fixed price of urea: <\/strong>Urea is sold at a fixed price of \u20b9242 per 45 kg bag, with the government covering the cost difference through subsidy.<\/li>\n
    4. Special subsidy for DAP: <\/strong>A one-time subsidy of \u20b93,500 per tonne was provided to keep DAP affordable despite rising global prices.<\/li>\n
    5. One Nation One Fertilizer (ONOF):<\/strong> The government introduced uniform branding as \u201cBharat Urea, Bharat DAP, and Bharat NPK\u201d<\/strong> to ensure quality and reduce confusion among farmers.<\/li>\n
    6. Expansion of domestic production:<\/strong> The government has operationalised six new urea plants, adding 76.2 LMT capacity and increasing domestic production to over 314 LMT.<\/li>\n
    7. Nano fertiliser initiatives: <\/strong>The government promotes nano urea and nano DAP through field demonstrations, awareness campaigns, and availability at PMKSK centres.<\/li>\n
    8. Use of technology in application: <\/strong>Initiatives like Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra and Namo Drone Didi programme promote drone-based spraying of fertilisers.<\/li>\n
    9. Neem coated urea programme: <\/strong>The government mandates neem coating of urea to reduce nitrogen loss and improve efficiency, reducing fertiliser requirement by about 10%.<\/li>\n
    10. PM-PRANAM scheme: <\/strong>This Prime Minister Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM ) scheme incentivises states to reduce chemical fertiliser use and promotes balanced nutrient application.<\/li>\n
    11. Promotion of biofertilisers: <\/strong>The government supports use of biofertilisers like Rhizobium, Azotobacter, and PSB through research and extension activities.<\/li>\n
    12. Soil Health Card scheme: <\/strong>Farmers are provided soil health cards that test 12 parameters and guide appropriate fertiliser use every two years.<\/li>\n
    13. Digital monitoring systems: <\/strong>Systems like Integrated Fertilizer Management System (iFMS) and Mobile Fertilizer Management System (mFMS)track fertiliser supply from production to retail and improve transparency in distribution.<\/li>\n
    14. International supply agreements: <\/strong>India has signed long-term agreements, including 3.1 million tonnes annual DAP supply from Saudi Arabia, and cooperation with Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      What Should Be Done?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
        \n
      1. Strengthening domestic production systems:<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n