|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fertiliser shock can become India’s wake-up call for agricultural self-reliance
|
|
Tuesday, 09 June, 2026, 16 : 00 PM [IST]
|
|
Aashay Doshi
|
For years, India’s fertiliser dependence was treated as a manageable economic reality. However, recent geopolitical turbulence in West Asia has made the country realise the significance of its fertiliser dependency problem.
India imports nearly 80-85% of critical fertiliser inputs such as urea, DAP and MOP from regions including the Gulf, China and Morocco. As shipping disruptions intensify through the Red Sea and insurance costs rise, the country’s food economy is feeling the pressure. What was once seen as a distant geopolitical issue is now directly linked to farm productivity, food inflation and rural stability.
Moreover, there are implications to worry about. While the situation may resolve soon, it may take several months to normalise the supply chain. Meanwhile, agriculture supports about half of the Indian working population. Hence, the fertiliser subsidy mechanism used by the Indian government has been effective so far. The cost of importing a tonne of urea is Rs 3,000 on international markets. In contrast, thanks to subsidies, the same product sells for Rs 300 in India. However, it is hardly sustainable long-term. Thus, the current fertiliser crisis should be interpreted not as a transitory event. Rather, it should be seen as a wake-up call for India to seek true agricultural independence.
That would mean a complete stoppage of use of chemical fertilisers overnight, which would not be wise. Such an immediate move could cause severe economic disturbance. The fertiliser policy of Sri Lanka in 2021 stands testament to the fact. Sri Lanka had almost completely banned the import of chemical fertilisers as part of their efforts to adopt organic farming to cut down their expenditure abroad. But what followed was a fall in crop production and a rise in food prices. This led to public discontent and protests against the plan. Consequently, the government had to revoke their policy somewhat. The transition to regenerative agriculture and biofertilisers in India, therefore, needs to be done step-by-step.
Fortunately, such a shift is already underway, although slowly. Thanks to the recent advances in biofertiliser technology, alternative input materials are becoming commercially more profitable than before. Technologies like micronisation and nano-farming allow for decreasing the number of required materials while increasing nutrient uptake. For instance, a regular requirement of 25 kg could be provided in liquid forms. The result is reduction in the amount of water and labour needed and better penetration into the soil.
Even more importantly, farmers will benefit economically. According to the experiences of companies in this field, biofertilisers help achieve higher profits on crops like tea, sugarcane, and palm oil because of less use of chemicals and improved soil fertility and productivity. Unlike the conventional chemical methods, which provide short-term spikes in yields and soil degradation, regenerative processes focus on improving soil quality and maintaining the organic carbon balance.
Despite the apparent advantages of the transition, it will not happen without obstacles., Farmers have become accustomed to seeing the effects of the fertilisers right away or within several days. However, biofertilisers require a process of conditioning of the soil, so the improvement will happen gradually. Such behavioural change will be even harder than switching technologies.
At the same time, the status quo will not last forever. Agricultural productivity in India is far from reaching world averages. Moreover, a new generation of people is reluctant to participate in such an uncertain activity with low remuneration. Thus, the agricultural system built on chemical inputs and imports cannot remain unchanged anymore.
The present period has some additional challenges. According to forecasts, rain will be around 90-92% of the average long-term value of this indicator for this year. Along with a lack of fertilisers, this will probably cause a drop in crop output and price increases among the nearest commodities.
All this suggests that agriculture needs some innovations in the field. In addition to developing fertiliser production capacity, it is necessary to invest in such sectors as bioinput manufacturing, agriculture-related technology advancement, and logistics infrastructure. Furthermore, it is important to prioritise sustainable agricultural practices, not just yields.
Eventually, any disruption triggers major changes in the economic system. The present shock in fertilisers may cause a much-desired transition towards the new structure of Indian agriculture.
(The author is chairman of the IMC Agriculture and Food Processing Committee)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|