4-May-2024-Editorial

HOW THE NEXT GOVERNMENT WILL PUSH ‘BALANCED FERTILISATION’ 

After the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the government is expected to prioritize balanced fertilization as a key policy goal to address issues in Indian agriculture. Despite efforts to regulate fertiliser consumption, urea usage has surged, highlighting the need for a more balanced approach. 

Balanced Fertilisation: 

• Essential Nutrients: Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are primary nutrients crucial for plant growth. Secondary nutrients like sulphur, calcium, and magnesium, along with micronutrients such as iron and zinc, are also vital but required in smaller quantities. 
• Right Proportion: Balanced fertilisation ensures that plants receive the optimal mix of nutrients based on factors like soil type and crop requirements. 

Benefits of Balanced Fertilisation: 

• Improved Crop Yields: Optimal nutrient supply leads to better growth and higher yields. 
• Enhanced Crop Quality: Balanced nutrients result in stronger, healthier plants with improved resistance to pests and diseases. 
• Promotes Soil Health: Maintaining a healthy soil ecosystem through balanced fertilisation ensures long-term sustainability. 
• Reduced Environmental Impact: Proper fertilisation minimises nutrient runoff, reducing pollution and environmental degradation. 
• Cost-Effectiveness: Balanced fertilisation optimises resource utilisation, reducing overall costs for farmers. 

Challenges Related to Balanced Fertilisation: 

• Price Distortions: Subsidies on urea lead to overuse, neglecting other essential nutrients like phosphorus and potassium. 
• Soil Testing Infrastructure: Inadequate soil testing facilities and lack of awareness hinder balanced fertilisation practices. 
• Farmer Awareness: Limited knowledge among farmers about soil testing and nutrient requirements inhibits adoption of balanced fertilisation techniques. 
• Limited Success of Past Schemes: Previous initiatives like the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme failed to address urea pricing, leading to continued overuse. 

Government Initiatives to Ensure Balanced Fertilisation: 

• Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme: Aimed at promoting balanced use of fertilisers by providing subsidies based on nutrient content. 
• PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PRANAM): Focuses on soil health and sustainable agriculture practices. 

• Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme: Provides farmers with information on soil health, helping them make informed fertilisation decisions. 
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Promotes organic farming practices to improve soil fertility and reduce dependency on chemical fertilisers. 
• Liquid Nano Urea and Nano DAP: Innovative fertiliser formulations aimed at improving nutrient efficiency and reducing environmental impact. 

Steps to Achieve Balanced Fertilisation: 

• Integrated Nutrient Management (INM): Holistic approach combining chemical fertilisers, organic matter, and crop rotations to ensure balanced nutrient supply. 
• Customising Fertilisers Using Technology: Utilising technology for customised fertiliser formulations based on soil and crop-specific requirements. 
• Advanced Approaches Beyond Soil Testing: Implementing advanced techniques like Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) and Diagnosis and Recommendation Integration System (DRIS) for precise nutrient management. 
• Farmer Education and Training: Providing farmers with knowledge and skills to implement balanced fertilisation practices effectively. 
• Improved Market Access: Ensuring availability of customised fertilisers and micronutrients at affordable prices. 
• Policy and Subsidy Reforms: Revising fertiliser pricing policies and subsidies to promote balanced fertilisation and sustainable practices. 
• Continued Research and Development: Investing in research to develop new technologies and solutions for nutrient management in agriculture. 

Conclusion: 

Balanced fertilisation holds immense potential to address various challenges in Indian agriculture, from improving yields and soil health to reducing environmental impact.  

However, achieving widespread adoption requires overcoming hurdles like skewed fertiliser pricing, limited soil testing infrastructure, and farmer awareness gaps.  

By implementing a multi-faceted approach involving technology, education, and policy reforms, India can realise the benefits of balanced fertilisation and move towards a more sustainable agricultural future.