There is an immediate need for the existing policy revision to ensure the sustainable, efficient and equitable use of fertilisers that support soil health and food security
Fertilisers are the inorganic amendments that supplement the required nutrients to crop plants and lead to increased yields. Fertiliser use started increasing drastically soon after the Green Revolution to increase food production to become a self-reliant country. Their usage extended to other crops, as many organisations in the public and private sectors started releasing new hybrid varieties in major fields as well as horticultural crops.
When fertilisers are applied in a balanced manner, plants have their fill, grow strong and produce healthy yields, when applied in excess fertilisers do not increase the yield, waste critical money, pollute water, degrade soil and release nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that is 270 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat.
During FY2023-24, the production of urea was 31.41 million tonnes (mt) and that of NP/NPK complex fertilisers was 9.55 mt with an increase of 10.2 per cent and 2.7 per cent, respectively, over 2022-23. India ranks second in consumption of fertilisers, and despite increasing domestic fertiliser production, about 30 per cent of fertiliser requirements are still met through imports. During times of uncertainty, war or trade crises, heavy reliance on imports could cause supply disruptions and price fluctuations.
