What Happened
- The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) has called for developing "smart alternate fertilisers" to reduce India's dependence on imported chemical fertilisers and achieve self-sufficiency
- The NAAS recommendations include increased use of biological fertilisers (biofertilisers), exploitation of the soil microbiome, improved composting techniques, crop breeding for enhanced Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE), soil health restoration, crop diversification, and agricultural residue recycling
- The recommendations align with India's goal of ending all urea imports by 2025-26 and the government's PM-PRANAM initiative launched in 2023 to incentivise reduced chemical fertiliser use
- Nano-fertilisers, including nano-urea and nano-DAP developed by IFFCO, are identified as key tools to reduce import dependence while maintaining yields
Static Topic Bridges
India's Fertiliser Import Dependence — The Problem
India is heavily dependent on imported fertilisers, particularly urea (nitrogen), DAP (di-ammonium phosphate), and Muriate of Potash (MOP/potash). This creates fiscal exposure through subsidy payments and strategic vulnerability given geopolitical supply risks.
- India imports ~30-35% of its urea requirement annually (most urea is made from natural gas — India lacks sufficient domestic production capacity) [Unverified — exact percentage varies by year]
- India imports ~100% of its MOP (Muriate of Potash) requirement — there are no significant potash deposits in India
- DAP import dependence: ~50-60% of requirement met through imports [Unverified]
- Fertiliser subsidy burden: ₹1.7-1.9 lakh crore in recent years (one of the largest items in Union Budget)
- NBS (Nutrient-Based Subsidy) policy applies to P&K fertilisers; urea remains under fixed MRP with full subsidy
- CPCB and agri ministry data show India's fertiliser consumption has more than tripled since the Green Revolution, leading to soil degradation
Connection to this news: NAAS's call for alternate fertilisers is directly motivated by this import vulnerability — biofertilisers, nano-fertilisers, and improved composting can partially substitute chemical imports, reducing subsidy burden and strategic risk.
PM-PRANAM Scheme — Policy Framework for Alternate Fertilisers
PM-PRANAM (PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Building, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother Earth) was introduced in Union Budget 2023-24 to incentivise states to reduce chemical fertiliser consumption and adopt alternatives.
- Launched: June 28, 2023
- Mechanism: 50% of the fertiliser subsidy saved by a state through reduced chemical fertiliser consumption (compared to the previous 3-year average) is returned to that state as a grant
- Grant utilisation: 70% for asset creation (biofertiliser units, technology adoption); 30% for incentivising farmers, panchayats, FPOs, SHGs
- Monitoring: Via iFMS (Integrated Fertiliser Management System), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers
- Complements PM-KUSUM (solar for irrigation) in reducing agricultural input import dependence
Connection to this news: The NAAS recommendations for biofertilisers, composting, and soil microbiome exploitation align precisely with PM-PRANAM's objective, providing the scientific backing needed to operationalise the scheme at scale.
Soil Microbiome and Biological Fertilisers — Science Explained
Biofertilisers are products containing living microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, algae) that, when applied to soil, seeds, or plant surfaces, colonise the rhizosphere and promote plant growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients (N, P, K).
- Rhizobium: Nitrogen-fixing bacteria that form symbiotic nodules on legume roots — fix atmospheric N2 into plant-usable NH4+ (biological nitrogen fixation); reduces urea requirement for pulse crops
- Mycorrhizal fungi (VAM — Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza): Extend root surface area, enhancing phosphorus uptake — can reduce DAP/phosphate fertiliser need
- Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB): Solubilise fixed soil phosphorus, making it plant-available
- Azospirillum and Azotobacter: Free-living nitrogen-fixing organisms for non-legume crops
- National Biofertiliser Development Centre (NBDC): Under the Department of Biotechnology, Ghaziabad — coordinates biofertiliser development and quality standards
Connection to this news: NAAS's call to "exploit the potential of the soil microbiome" refers to precisely these biological mechanisms — scaling biofertiliser use could reduce India's chemical fertiliser consumption without compromising yields.
Nano-Fertilisers — IFFCO's Innovation
Nano-fertilisers are nutrient particles engineered at the nanoscale (1-100 nanometres), enabling targeted, slow-release nutrient delivery. IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited) developed and launched India's Nano Urea (liquid) in 2021 and Nano DAP in 2023.
- IFFCO Nano Urea (liquid): 500 ml bottle equivalent to one bag (45 kg) of conventional urea — delivered via foliar spray; approved by the Fertiliser Control Order
- IFFCO Nano DAP: 500 ml equivalent to one bag of conventional DAP
- NUE (Nutrient Use Efficiency): Nano-fertilisers can increase NUE by up to 30% compared to conventional fertilisers — less nutrient runoff, less water pollution
- IFFCO: India's largest cooperative federation; founded 1967; headquartered in New Delhi
- Nano fertilisers regulated under the Fertilisers (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985 (under Essential Commodities Act)
Connection to this news: The NAAS recommendation for "crop breeding for enhanced NUE" and smart alternate fertilisers dovetails with IFFCO's nano-fertiliser programme — both aim to extract more crop output per unit of nutrient input, reducing import dependence.
Key Facts & Data
- NAAS: National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, autonomous body under DST
- PM-PRANAM launched: June 28, 2023 (Union Budget 2023-24)
- India's fertiliser subsidy: ~₹1.7-1.9 lakh crore (recent years, Union Budget)
- India's urea import target ending: 2025-26 (government stated goal)
- India's MOP import dependence: ~100% (no domestic potash deposits)
- IFFCO Nano Urea (liquid): 500 ml = 1 bag (45 kg) conventional urea
- IFFCO Nano DAP: 500 ml = 1 bag conventional DAP; launched 2023
- Nano-fertiliser NUE improvement: up to 30% over conventional fertilisers
- IFFCO founded: 1967 (India's largest cooperative)
- Biological nitrogen fixation by Rhizobium: key mechanism to reduce urea dependence in pulse cultivation