Since the introduction of synthetic fertilizers in a big way during the Green Revolution era in the 1960s, the Government of India has changed fertilizer related policies from time to time. I am interested in your views as to which policies have shown a visible impact on fertilizer use and management in the country.
An interesting question sir...
Number of fertilizer policies launched from time to time between 1957 to 2015 . The fertilizer policy came into existence in 1957 as fertilizer control order under essential commodity act followed by retention pricing scheme in 1977 , economic reforms in 1992, expenditure reforms in 2000, nutrient based subsidy in 2010 though it encouraged overuse of urea disrupting ideal NPK balance , neem coated urea in 2015 , gas pooling policy in 2015, new urea policy in 2015....like that
But , the policy of nutrient based subsidy produced the maximum impact on indian agriculture.
Yes sir, NBS (Nutrient Based Subsidy) policy visibly increased the consumption and management of fertilizers. At present, prices of fertilizers are increasing but the prices received by farmers for their produce have increased only marginally. This means farmers cannot afford higher fertilizer prices and any increase in price may lead to lower use of nutrients, resulting in reduced yields and profits.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on February 24, 2021 has issued Fertilizer (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) second Amendment Order, 2021 to further amend the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985.
NBS and It’s Rationale:
Under NBS, the fertilizers are provided to the farmers at the subsidized rates based on the nutrients (N, P, K & S) contained in these fertilizers.
Apart from this, fertilizers which are fortified with secondary and micronutrients such as molybdenum (Mo) and zinc are given additional subsidy.
Under this Policy, the subsidy on Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers is announced by the Government on an annual basis for each nutrient on a per kg basis.
These rates are determined taking into account the international and domestic prices of P&K fertilizers, exchange rate, inventory level in the country etc.
NBS policy intends to increase the consumption of P&K fertilizers so that optimum balance (N:P:K= 4:2:1 ) of NPK fertilization is achieved.
This would improve soil health and as a result the yield from the crops would increase resulting in enhanced income to the farmers.
Also, as the government expects rational use of fertilizers, this would also ease off the burden of fertilizer subsidy.
It is being implemented from April 2010 by the Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
Source: https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/refroming-nutrient-based-subsidy-regime.
The Green Revolution, because it is intensive, faces, almost everywhere in the world, the limits of water and soil resources, particularly in arid countries. The Challenge is: A new green revolution is more necessary than ever, one that changes the water paradigm. See references within the project:
https://www.researchgate.net/project/The-Holistic-Water-Balance-Blue-Green-Virtual-Water
This issue is also discussed on:
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Water_Footprint_Water_Colors_Blue_Water_Green_Water_Grey_Water_Virtual_Water?_ec=topicPostOverviewAuthoredQuestions&_sg=iBqrYhMeOpt8xH6DTzC_RzqDIMc-ggyWauXMBUWJdhaVGYGv9nHpRG03phkYzMemGhELPunGcyfB8OlP
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Geoscience
- Asia
- India