Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar on Tuesday advocated a "3 A" approach - authenticity (quality), availability and affordability - to improve upon fertilisers.
"The ultimate aim of the government should be to provide last mile timely availability of quality fertilisers at affordable rates to the farmers. This would ensure the fertiliser security of the country which is essential for the food security," he said at a conference of officers of state agriculture departments.
The government is soon planning to set up Indian Council for Fertilisers Research, he added.
Ananth Kumar also said that research is required to discover and develop various means and ways of producing quality fertilisers, nutrients and various combinations which are good for the soil.
Research has a role to play in all aspects of the fertiliser chain which includes production, transportation, storage, availability and application, he added.
Indian fertiliser manufacturers last year had achieved an all time record of 245 lakh metric tonnes urea production.
Timely imports, pre-positioning of the fertilisers, contribution of the states in timely distribution, and cooperation of the Railways has helped in making the fertiliser position comfortable in the country, he said.
Ananth Kumar asked the state government officials to enforce quality checks on the fertilisers, undertake district level planning for its supply, provide adequate storage facilities and take benefit of pre-positioning.
He called upon the states to initiate a drive against those who indulge in hoarding, black-marketing, diversion and smuggling of fertilisers. He also emphasised on the issue of soil security and ways to compost initiative.
He said that the government is looking at reviving the sick fertiliser public sector companies.
--IANS
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