Nagarjuna Fertilisers Ltd and Prathista Industries Ltd have joined hands for marketing the novel nano-technology based organic farm nutrients to farmers.
The two companies are likely to ink a revenue-sharing model and "exclusivity" agreement in the next couple of days before Prathista formally launches its newly-developed products on August 10.
Extracted through the process of fermentation, Prathista has employed for the first time nano-technology for producing cost-effective diversified nutrient fertilisers derived from glucose and sugar.
The nano-technology component for the fertilisers has been provided by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) through a licencing agreement with Prathista. ICAR has mentioned the technology as 'disruptive' in the production of organic fertilisers. The council had been working on the related nano technology research for the last five years by earmarking a budget of Rs 5 crore.
Chief promoter of Prathista KVSS Sairam said farmers would gain an average of 20 per cent additional yields coupled with an increase in micro organism levels in soil by shifting to these nutrient fertilisers, while they can totally avoid using the traditional murate of potash (MOP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilisers.
Director of National Academy of Agricultural Research Management D Rama Rao said organic fertilisers were critical to farming sector as the soil health across major agricultural crop has reached alarming levels due to excessive use of chemical fertilisers.
He said the key to extensive spread of such novel organic fertilisers rested with the mode of packaging, farmer education and marketing strategies.
Nagarjuna Fertilisers executive president for downstream business MN Bhaskaran said, "the company would run the product for an evaluation in partnership with ICAR and Prathista before introducing in the market. We are hoping to get it fully ready by the next kharif season."
The fertiliser is being made available in liquid and granule formulations and is likely to be priced 20-30 per cent lower than the general MOP price of Rs 900 for a 50 kg bag.
