NEWS HIGHLIGHT
Theme : Agriculture and Related Issues
Paper:GS-3
A task force to examine the production and promotion of bio-fertilizer and organic fertilizers has already been set up under the NITI Aayog.
TABLE OF CONTENT
- Context
- Consumption of Fertilizers in India
- Impacts of Current Policy
- Steps taken in 2022
- Road Ahead
Context : A task force to examine the production and promotion of bio-fertilizer and organic fertilizers has already been set up under the NITI Aayog.
Consumption of Fertilizers in India :
- Total consumption of fertilizers between April and mid-December 2022 was 40.146 million metric tonnes (mmt), with production of 32.076 mmt and imports of 12.839 mmt.
- The gap between demand and production is met through timely imports.
Impacts of Current Policy :
- Heavy subsidies: This has prompted many farmers to use chemical fertilizers like urea, which leads to higher productivity, but affects soil fertility in the long run.
- Excessive and inefficient use of fertilizers: This leads to nutrient losses to the environment and could also result in drinking water contamination and impact human lives as a result of unsafe storage practices, as per a UN report.
- Emission causing: With the subsidy being released directly to companies, technology-inefficient companies are being protected causing carbon emission.
Steps taken in 2022 :
- Implementation of DBT: The department of fertilizers disbursed subsidies for urea and nutrient-based subsidy, and implemented direct benefit transfer.
- One Nation One Fertilizers Scheme: It also implemented the ONOF scheme which aims to ensure timely supply of fertilizers.
- Model fertilizer retail outlets: The existing village, block/sub district/taluk and district level fertilizer retail outlets are being converted into model fertilizer retail outlets.
Road Ahead :
- Promoting local fertilizers: Lower duty on imported phosphoric acid to raise the competitiveness of local fertilizer manufacturers, and an incentive for promoting organic fertilizers, could be proposed.
- Bio-fertilizer and organic fertilizers: A task force on bio-fertilizer and organic fertilizers has already been set up under NITI Aayog.
- Curbing hefty subsidies: Considering the long-term interests of agriculture and the effects of using inorganic fertilizers, saving a huge amount on account of subsidy support is a step in the right direction.
FAQs :
-
What is the state of Fertilizer Consumption in India?
ANS.
- Total consumption of fertilizers between April and mid-December 2022 was 40.146 million metric tonnes (mmt), with production of 32.076 mmt and imports of 12.839 mmt.
- The gap between demand and production is met through timely imports.
-
What is the recent step taken by the Government?
ANS. A task force to examine the production and promotion of bio-fertilizer and organic fertilizers has already been set up under the NITI Aayog.