FORTIFICATION
OF UREA – AGRICULTURE
News: How to make Urea more efficient as a
fertiliser, and why that’s needed
What's
in the news?
●
Late last month, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi officially launched ‘Urea Gold’ fertiliser. Developed by the state-owned
Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd (RCF), it is basically urea fortified
with sulphur.
Urea
Gold:
●
Traditional urea primarily consists of 46%
nitrogen (N). Urea Gold represents a leap forward by combining 37% nitrogen and
17% sulphur.
●
This innovative composition serves two
primary purposes - bolstering soil quality and boosting nitrogen utilization
efficiency.
Soil
Deficiencies Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency (NUE):
●
Indian soils suffer from deficiencies,
particularly in key nutrients like sulphur (S).
Challenges
in Urea Consumption in India:
1.
Import Dependency:
●
India heavily relies on imported urea due
to insufficient domestic production.
●
Around 7.6 million tonnes of urea were
imported out of the total 35.7 million tonnes sold last fiscal year.
2.
Feedstock Dependency:
●
The feedstock for domestic urea
production, natural gas, is predominantly imported.
●
This adds to the overall import dependence
for the fertiliser.
3.
High Consumption:
●
Urea is India's most widely used
fertiliser, with consumption rising from 26.7 million tonnes to 35.7 million
tonnes between 2009-10 and 2022-23.
4.
Environmental Impact:
●
Excessive urea usage contributes to
environmental problems such as air and water pollution.
●
Ammonia emissions and nitrate leaching are
associated with these environmental challenges.
5.
Higher Input Costs:
●
Inefficient fertiliser use due to low NUE
leads to higher input costs for farmers.
●
They need to apply more fertiliser to
achieve desired yields.
Significance
of Urea Gold:
1.
Nutrient Enrichment:
●
Urea Gold is a novel fertiliser fortified
with sulphur (S).
●
It contains 37% nitrogen (N) and 17%
sulphur, addressing soil deficiencies that are critical for crops like oilseeds
and pulses.
2.
Targeted Improvement:
●
The sulphur content in Urea Gold addresses
the specific nutrient requirements of oilseeds and pulses, which are crucial
components of Indian agriculture and are significantly import-dependent.
3.
Packaging and Pricing Shift:
●
Urea Gold's introduction might entail
packaging in 40-kg bags, adapting to the preferences of farmers.
●
While exact pricing remains undisclosed,
market trends suggest Urea Gold could be priced between Rs 400 to Rs 500 per
40-kg bag.
4.
Enhanced Nitrogen Use Efficiency:
●
The sulphur-coated urea granules in Urea
Gold facilitate a controlled and gradual release of nitrogen.
●
This extended nutrient availability
improves NUE, leading to reduced fertiliser application frequency and better
crop health.
5.
Sustainable Agriculture:
●
Urea Gold's dual focus on addressing soil
deficiencies and improving NUE contributes to more sustainable agricultural
practices.
●
It reduces excessive fertiliser use and
associated environmental impact.
6.
Economic Benefit:
●
The improved Nitrogen Use Efficiency
offered by Urea Gold has the potential to reduce input costs for farmers, as
they can achieve similar or better yields with lower fertiliser quantities.
7.
Potential Yield Boost:
●
The sustained nitrogen release mechanism
of Urea Gold can potentially lead to increased crop yields due to longer
periods of vibrant foliage and enhanced nutrient availability.
Issues:
1.
Pricing Uncertainty:
●
Lack of clear pricing details for Urea
Gold could impact its adoption among farmers.
2.
Subsidy Disparity:
●
The current additional rates offered by
the government may not sufficiently incentivize companies to promote fortified
fertilisers like Urea Gold.
3.
Limited Farmer Incentives:
●
Farmers might perceive fortified
fertilisers as more expensive compared to traditional options, leading to
reluctance in adoption.
4.
Distribution Challenges:
●
Ensuring uniform distribution and
application of fortified fertilisers presents logistical complexities.
5.
Regulatory Influence:
●
Regulatory aspects, such as pricing
controls and subsidy structures, can affect the feasibility of fortified
fertiliser products.
6.
Awareness Gap:
●
Limited farmer awareness regarding the
benefits and correct usage of fortified fertilisers might hinder their
willingness to switch.
7.
Production Scalability:
●
Scaling up fortified fertiliser production
to meet demand and ensure availability poses a significant hurdle.
WAY
FORWARD:
1.
Price Rationalization:
●
The government could consider revisiting
subsidy rates to make fortified fertilisers economically attractive for both
companies and farmers.
●
This would encourage the adoption of
innovative products like Urea Gold.
2.
Subsidy Structure:
●
Tailoring subsidies to reflect the
enhanced benefits of fortified fertilisers, such as improved NUE and reduced
environmental impact, could encourage their adoption.
3.
Education Campaigns:
●
Launching awareness campaigns about the
advantages of fortified fertilisers, like Urea Gold, can educate farmers and
dispel misconceptions about their higher costs.
4.
Field Demonstrations:
●
Organizing on-field demonstrations of the
benefits of fortified fertilisers could provide tangible evidence to farmers,
boosting their confidence in making the switch.
5.
Long-Term Perspective:
●
Encouraging farmers to consider the
long-term economic and environmental benefits of fortified fertilisers could
shift their focus from initial cost concerns.
6.
Market Diversification:
●
Exploring partnerships with private sector
players and agribusinesses to promote fortified fertilisers could enhance
market penetration.
7.
Gradual Transition:
●
Gradually phasing in fortified fertilisers
while continuing to offer traditional options at subsidized rates can ease
farmers into adopting the new products.
Urea Gold's introduction
marks a significant step towards addressing the complexities of modern
agriculture. To fully harness the power of fortified fertilisers, a multi-
faceted approach is needed - blending cutting-edge technology with conducive
policies to steer Indian - agriculture towards sustainable growth and
heightened productivity.