Unproductive fertiliser policy

New fertiliser branding plan must be reviewed

The government’s “one nation, one fertiliser” policy, which mandates fertiliser products of different companies to be marketed under the single brand name of “Bharat”, is ill-advised. Although all fertilisers, whether imported or produced by the public, private or the cooperative sector carry a subsidy of almost 80 to 90 per cent, it does not justify the government’s claim over their brand value. Nor does it legitimise denial of an opportunity to the companies to create their own market space through brand promotion. Besides, it also seems to impinge upon the farmers’ right to buy the products of their choice. Moreover,