Explore promotion of liquid fertilisers: Govt to firms

The government has asked private and public fertiliser firms to explore ways to promote the use of soil nutrients in liquid form through drip irrigation to save costs as well as water.
Liquid fertilisers are mixed with water to make a solution that has rapid affect on crop growth.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed the desire to promote this technology during a presentation by Fertilizers Secretary on the sector.
"...Directed to state that during the presentation of Secretary Fertilisers before the Prime Minister of India, it was desired to promote use of liquid fertilisers and drip irrigation to save water, labour and also bags and other costs," the ministry has written to fertiliser companies.

"Accordingly, are requested to explore promotion of liquid fertilizers and drip irrigation amongst the farmers," it has said.
The Fertilizer Ministry has also asked the companies to launch a big campaign to promote this new method of using fertilisers among the farming community.

Meanwhile, the ministry is also working on framing a policy for organic fertilisers.
At present, urea is the most widely used fertiliser in the country as it is cheaper than decontrolled Phosphatic (P) and Potassic (K) fertilisers such as DAP and MoP.
Following the imbalanced use of urea, soil health has started deteriorating as currently the ratio of NPK is 8.3:2.7:1, as against the ideal ratio of 4:2:1.

The ministry has also written to the companies to check excessive consumption of urea.