Government’s Efforts to Empower Farmers Through Fertilizer Support | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

The significance of the fertilizer sector

• The importance of the fertilizer sector in India cannot be overstated, as it serves as a crucial element for the advancement of Indian agriculture, playing an indispensable role in achieving self-sufficiency in food grain production.
• The scope of the fertilizer sector extends beyond the fertilizer industry itself, encompassing various activities within the agricultural domain that are intricately connected to the production and distribution of fertilizers.
• Farmers, being the primary consumers of fertilizers, rely heavily on the fertilizer industry to meet their agricultural needs.
• However, the challenge lies in reconciling the government's objective of doubling farmers' real income by FY23 with the ongoing subsidy on fertilizers, which might hinder the attainment of agricultural sector goals, particularly amidst declining farm yields aggravated by climate change. Thus, a reassessment of fertilizer policies is imperative.

Issues and Dilemmas

• The current approach of promoting farming by emphasizing the use of chemical fertilizers diverges from ecologically sustainable farming practices. Overreliance on a limited set of chemicals like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) overlooks the nutritional requirements of plants, which extend beyond these elements.
• The disproportionate use of urea due to its affordability in regions like Punjab results in nutrient imbalance, leading to diminished or stagnant yields. A holistic evaluation of subsidy systems is necessary to ensure overall benefits to agriculture.
• Uniform pricing of compost and urea discourages farmers from transitioning to organic farming, highlighting the need for on-farm fertilizer production.
• Although cropping pattern adjustments are being made, they remain limited in scale. Instead of subsidizing chemical fertilizers, incentivizing organic farming practices should be prioritized.
• Long-term reliance on fertilizer subsidies may sustain fertilizer companies but could adversely impact farmers' profitability due to escalating input costs and diminishing yields.

Potential Measures

• Creating momentum for change through robust policy frameworks is essential.
• Collaborative efforts between state and central governments are crucial to promote ecological farming practices among farmers, particularly in regions like western Uttar Pradesh and Punjab facing groundwater depletion.
• Farmers need education and support to diversify their cropping patterns, moving away from staple crops like wheat and rice towards multiple cropping systems.

Shifting Focus to Bio-fertilizers:

• Bio-fertilizers, being cost-effective, renewable, and eco-friendly, possess significant potential to supplement plant nutrients if utilized effectively.
• While not substitutes for chemical fertilizers, bio-fertilizers enhance soil health gradually, albeit with less immediate visible effects.
• Low uptake of bio-fertilizers in the country is attributed to inadequate awareness and the gradual impact on soil productivity.
• Embracing bio-fertilizers is imperative for preserving soil health, especially considering the detrimental effects of excessive chemical fertilizer use on soil microorganisms.

Path Forward

• Reforming India's fertilizer subsidy regime, exemplified by initiatives like the PM-PRANAM Scheme, is essential.
• Political commitment is necessary for agricultural reform, with a focus on demonstrating tangible benefits to farmers.
• Efforts should concentrate on improving fertilizer efficiency through targeted application methods, rather than indiscriminate use.
• Achieving self-reliance in fertilizer production and rationalizing urea prices vis-à-vis non-nitrogenous fertilizers and crop prices are critical objectives.
• Engagement with farmers and consumers underscores the demand for transitioning to non-chemical fertilizers and equalizing subsidies and prices between chemical and organic/bio-fertilizers.