India’s import and consumption of urea, a key crop nutrient, has declined for the primary time in a long time on the again of upper home manufacturing of nano urea, a liquid type of the chemical, in addition to a transfer in the direction of eco-friendly options by farmers, official knowledge present.

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Total imports of urea, that are regulated by the federal government, stood at 6.4 million tonne within the first 10 months of the continued fiscal 12 months, in comparison with 7.3 million tonne within the corresponding interval a 12 months in the past, a fall of 12%. Imports had peaked to 9.8 million tonne throughout 2020-21.

Domestic consumption of urea till January 31 of the 12 months to March additionally dropped 0.3% to three.17 million tonnes from 3.18 million tonne a 12 months in the past. However, the sale of all fertilizers put collectively has inched up by 2.9% to 53.9 million from 52.4 million tonne, primarily gross sales of advanced and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) group of fertilizers rose.

The authorities has set 2025-26 because the deadline by which it hopes to attain self-sufficiency in urea by ramping up native output of nano urea. The liquid kind is alleged to be extra environment friendly than standard urea. Crop vitamins are bought by producers at a reduction to tens of millions of farmers, who’re then reimbursed by the Centre.

As a part of a broader coverage push to restrict fertilizer subsidies and promote pure and natural farming, the federal government has been working PM-Pranam, a scheme introduced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her 2023-24 funds speech.

Food and fertiliser subsidies accounted for about one-eighth of India’s whole funds value practically ₹39 lakh crore in 2022-23. India, the world’s third-largest fertilizer purchaser, depends on imports to satisfy home demand.

Under PM-Pranam, 50% of fertilizer subsidies saved by a state is given again to it as a grant, which states can put to any use, reminiscent of constructing infrastructure, an official stated. “In other words, if a state saves ₹3,000 crore, then it will get back ₹1,500 crore,” he stated, declining to be named.

The consumption of standard urea has gone down in 344 districts of the nation, official knowledge present, which has helped paring expensive imports. Sales of domestically produced nano urea have elevated in 74 districts.

India’s consumption of standard urea is estimated to say no by 2.5 million tonne in 2023-24 resulting from a rise within the demand of nano urea and the federal government’s efforts to curb use of agricultural chemical substances by way of pure farming, fertilizer minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated final week. Total urea consumption throughout 2022-23 12 months was practically 35.7 million tonne.

Read right here: Nano urea to be sprayed in fields through drone, registration required on portal

The nation’s meals safety is intently linked to availability of fertilizers, whose costs hit a multi-year peak in 2022 because of the Ukraine battle and knock-on results of the pandemic on provide chains.

The authorities’s spending on crop nutrient subsidies for 2022-23 leapt to a report ₹2.25 lakh crore. For the present fiscal 12 months, the budgeted fertilizer subsidy is ₹1.75 lakh crore, which has been elevated to ₹1.89 lakh crore in revised estimates of 2023-24.