Dr. Parveen Kumar
Fertilizers are a critical input in the agricultural production process. India is the world’s second largest consumer and third largest producer of fertilizers with usage roughly reaching 199.1 kg per hectare by 2023. While domestic production has increased to 503.35 LMT in 2023-24; India still import significant quantities of fertilizers particularly Urea which dominates consumption. Fertilizer consumption in India for the 2024–25 financial year was estimated to reach a record high of 70.7 million tonnes, marking a 9.1% increase over the previous year. Sales surged to 655.94 lakh tonnes (65.59 million tonnes) due to strong agricultural demand. Key trends include a 6.6% increase in urea sales above demand, while Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) consumption saw a 14% drop, MOP and Complex fertilizers dipped slightly by 1% each. Highest consumption states in the country include Uttar Pradesh (120 LMT), Punjab (60 LMT), and Andhra Pradesh (45 LMT). This means intensified agricultural activity with higher cropping intensity all across the country. The surge in consumption underscores intensified agricultural activity and higher cropping frequencies across the country.
On a per hectare basis, Punjab is the highest consumer of fertilizers in India with consumption often exceeding 190-247 kg/ha due to intensive rice-wheat cropping. While Uttar Pradesh leads in absolute total consumption, Punjab, along with Haryana and Andhra Pradesh, has the highest usage per unit area, significantly exceeding the national average. Data also reveals that average fertilizer consumption in India is approximately 140–150 kg per hectare of arable land, with recent data showing variations between 137 kg and over 199 kg per hectare depending on the source. Consumption is heavily weighted toward nitrogen (N), with total nutrient (NPK) usage rising steadily, especially in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu. Nitrogenous fertilizers form the largest share contributing to a high reliance on urea. There are regional variations in the usage with consumption highest in the North and South zones, while Eastern and Western regions often show lower average usage.
The continuous and indiscriminate use of fertilizers from the last so many decades have led to many environmental, social and health issues. Chemical fertilizers cause significant environmental and health problems, including water contamination (Eutrophication), soil degradation (acidification), biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions (nitrous oxide). Excessive use leads to nutrient runoff, damaging aquatic ecosystems, and causes fertilizer burn, which dehydrates crops. Nutrient runoff (nitrogen, phosphorus) enters water bodies, causing algal blooms, killing aquatic life, and contaminating groundwater sources for decades. Overuse reduces organic matter, destroys soil microorganisms, and causes soil acidification and hardening, limiting long-term soil fertility. Chemical fertilizers are a significant source of nitrous oxide (a greenhouse gas) and cause air pollution. Various gases released by chemical fertilizers lead to global warming resulting in increased temperature of the planet. The global warming further adversely affects the agricultural productivity particularly in the rainfed regions. Besides, continuous exposure to chemical runoff has been associated with cancer, including gastric and testicular cancer due to high nitrate levels. Plants grown with excessive chemical fertilizer often lack nutrient quality, despite rapid growth. It has been observed that farmers due to ignorance or an understanding that larger the quantity of fertilizers applied more the yield of crops go for indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers. Farmers also even do not know the right dose of fertilizers for the crops they cultivate and also the method of application of fertilizers. While Urea has to be applied at the rate of about 5 kilogram per kanal in Maize in three doses, farmers apply 8-9 kilogram it in a single dose. This besides having a negative impact on our soil and environment also increases the cost of cultivation ultimately making the agriculture sector non remunerative.
ICAR’s Initiative: To do away with the ignorance and wrong perception of farming community Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has started a nationwide awareness initiative on ‘Balanced Use of Fertilizers’. The intensive campaign focuses on 4Rs i. e Purchasing Fertilizers from a Right source, applying them to different crops at Right rate i. e dosage per hectare, at Right time and at Right place. With Balanced Use of fertilizers, the initiative also promotes soil test based recommendations, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Organic and Natural Farming. Farmers are made aware of the appropriate fertilizers dose for Kharif crops, the right time and method of their application. They are also sensitized on the soil sampling for soil testing so that they can themselves take soil sample from their fields and send it for n nutrient analysis in labs and get their Soil Health Cards. Based on the results of soil test farmers are advised to apply the fertilizers in their fields. Krishi Vigyan Kendras have been entrusted with the lead responsibility of taking this initiative to the grass roots level. The latest data as of in the month of reveals that campaigns via Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) have reached over a lakh farmers through digital platforms and field-level training, focusing on transitioning from ‘more input’ to ‘right input’. Te campaigns also encourage combined use of inorganic fertilizers with organic sources like bio-fertilizers, farmyard manure (FYM), and green manures to improve soil structure and organic carbon content.
Appropriate Technologies are also being promoted. These technologies include Leaf Colour Charts (LCC), nanotechnology-based fertilizers (Nano Urea), and fortified, micronutrient-coated fertilizers. Balanced use of fertilizers also collaborates with PM-PRANAM scheme. The PM-PRANAM (Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother Earth) scheme, approved in June 2023, incentivizes Indian states to reduce chemical fertilizer usage. It promotes balanced, sustainable agriculture by passing 50% of fertilizer subsidy savings back to states for promoting organic/alternative fertilizers. The scheme is funded by the “savings of existing fertilizer subsidy” under the Department of Fertilizers. It does not have a separate budget. 50% of the subsidy savings resulting from reduced chemical fertilizer consumption (compared to the previous three-year average) is granted to the respective state. 70% of the grant can be used for technological adoption, asset creation, and alternative fertilizer production at the village/block/district level. The remaining 30% is used for awareness generation, promoting organic farming, and incentivizing farmers/Panchayats. The scheme also stresses upon focuses on balancing the use of nitrogenous fertilizers (like Urea) with alternative fertilizers to address soil degradation and to move toward sustainable farming practices and reduce the overall burden of fertilizer subsidies.
To conclude the Balanced Use of Fertilizers Initiative aims to reverse the declining soil health caused by imbalanced nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) ratios, which are heavily skewed towards nitrogen and to promote sustainable soil health and crop management practices. KVK-Ramban under the leadership of Prof. B. N. Tripathi Hon’ble Vice Chancellor and Prof. Amrish Vaid, Director Extension has already been proactively engaged in awareness and sensitization of farming community on Balanced Use of Fertilizers and sustainable agricultural practices
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