 "Dignitaries at Fertilizer Association of India seminar")
Balanced usage of fertilisers is key to overcome decreasing soil fertility and improving farm productivity. There is an urgent need to use various nutrients in a proportionate manner, said Ananth Kumar, Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister, at the annual session of Fertilizer Association of India (FAI). He called upon the fertiliser industry to join hands with the government in propagating the message of using balanced fertilisers among the farmers.
The government has taken up the issue on a large scale by distributing Soil Health Cards, opening Soil Labs and promoting neem-coated urea. Ananth Kumar said that the Government is contemplating a policy to convert waste to compost.
While the country imports 7-8 million tonnes per annum of fertiliser, no new fertiliser plant has been set up in last 15-20 years. In order to raise the domestic production of urea, the government has taken decision to revive several fertiliser plants. The minister said, “The government will provide land, gas subsidy, infrastructure for these plants and the industry should come on board to take part in the bids invited for these plants. The government is willing to facilitate the industry in overcoming its problems. The issue of subsidy urea will be soon sorted out.”
The government has already announced New Urea policy which is based on the principles of stability and level playing field. This sector has grown more than 18 percent in last one year and the production is likely to grow up by about 15 lakh tones this year. Ananth Kumar said, more the industry produces, more it gains. Full advantage will be given for higher capacity utilisation.
