Overuse of fertilizers

India’s food grain production in 2022–23, which touched a record 330.53 million metric tonnes, comes with the worry of increasing use of fertiliser. The sustainability of food grain production to meet rising demand is dependent on the balanced use of fertilisers so that soil health is maintained to prevent a decline in productivity. An increase in urea and other chemical fertiliser use is attributed to their availability at heavily subsidised prices. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has been running an awareness campaign for soil test-based balanced and integrated nutrient management, recommending the use of both inorganic and organic sources of plant nutrients to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers. According to ICAR, overuse of fertiliser leads to deterioration of soil health, contamination of the environment, and contamination of groundwater. The intended objective of this awareness drive will be achieved only when the campaign reaches every single farmer in all states. The National Mission on Soil Health Card provides for handing out a printed advisory to the farmer based on the soil nutrient status of the holding, the recommended quantity of fertiliser for application, and other measures to be undertaken to maintain soil health for optimal production. World Bank data shows that, against the global average of 164 kg per hectare, fertiliser consumption in India has increased to 209 kg per hectare. Information provided by the Department of Fertiliser under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers brings to the fore that though the recommended dose of use of Nitrogen, phosphorus, and Potash is 4:2:1, it has increased to 8:3:1, indicating overuse of nitrogen fertiliser consumption, which will lead to leaching and affect the soil’s health. Measures listed by the department to reduce fertiliser use include the Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, developing digital soil test kits for estimating all 12 parameters enlisted in the soil health card. It claims that Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and some of the ICAR institutions are equipped with these kits to supplement soil analysis and distribute soil health cards. Besides, ICAR imparts training and organises Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) to educate farmers on soil test-based balanced and integrated nutrient management, states the report of the parliamentary panel. The committee, however, pointed out that even though 22 crore soil health cards have been issued to the farmers in the country, the KVKs, Agricultural Universities, or State Governments are not taking optimal measures to facilitate soil testing at the district and block levels. Implementation of the parliamentary committee’s recommendation for putting in place a proper mechanism under which the government official visits the village on a prescribed date and time for soil testing can be expected to increase the level of awareness among farmers about the balanced use of urea and other chemical fertilisers. Apart from affecting soil health, overuse of urea has led to an increase in the subsidy amount in the Union budget, the burden of which is borne by the taxpayers. The budget for fertiliser subsidy for the current year stands at Rs 2.25 lakh crore, of which 68 percent is for urea, including indigenous and imported fertilisers. Withdrawing or reducing the subsidy is not an option to reduce fertiliser use, as it would then lead to a steep rise in food grain prices at farm gates and put the burden on consumers. The Department is working on a savings scheme whereby if any State consumes less chemical fertilisers during the year than the average consumption of the last three years, it will be given 50% of the savings on subsidy on the decreased amount as an incentive for use in development works, promotion of organic farming, or non-chemical fertilisers. The scheme sounds good, but its successful implementation will depend on States taking the initiative to reach out to farmers about the effective use of the Soil Test Card by raising their awareness about the harmful effects of overusing chemical fertilisers. The PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Generation, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM) scheme, under which a grant of Rs. 1500 per MT of market development assistance on organic and bio-fertilisers is available, is another intervention by the central government to incentivize the States to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers and promote alternative fertilisers. The Green Revolution bypassing states in the northeast region was a blessing in disguise as it kept agricultural practises mostly organic by default, but there is little room for complacency, particularly in Assam, as fertiliser use is rising significantly and a large section of farmers are yet to be provided with the Soil Health Card. The region has the opportunity to set examples for the country in the balanced use of fertilisers. It can also become an important hub of organic fertiliser and bio-fertiliser production if the States prioritise it with the support of the central government, but awareness among farmers is the key.