Parl panel to govt: ‘Conduct long-term field trials to check efficacy of nano-fertilisers’

New Delhi: A parliamentary panel has asked the government to conduct long-term field trials on various agricultural crops to check the efficacy of nano liquid fertilisers.

A Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers on Monday presented a report on ‘self-sufficiency in the production of fertilisers with a view to curbing the import of fertilisers - reviewing constraints thereof’.

In its report, the committee said that it was informed that nano-fertilisers hold great promise for application in plant nourishment with nano urea and nano DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) available in bottles at lower prices than conventional urea and DAP.

To further promote nano-fertilisers, the panel has given many suggestions to the Department of Fertilizers, under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

The panel has asked the department to take measures for enhancing the production of nano fertilisers, including nano urea and nano DAP (di-ammonium phosphate), conduct field trials to check efficacy and create awareness about this product among farmers.

The committee noted that the production of Nano fertilisers requires a small quantity of raw materials.

“The department may extend full support through its policies and programmes to expand the production capacity of nano fertilisers, including Nano Urea and Nano DAP, many fold so that it could significantly replace the use of conventional Urea/ P&K fertilisers over the years and contribute to attaining self-sufficiency in the fertilisers sector,” it recommended.

The committee hoped that the department would take concrete, time-bound and sincere steps in this direction.

Moreover, the panel suggested that “long-term field trials of application of nano fertilisers may be got conducted by the Department on various crops throughout the country...to thoroughly assess and validate the merits and demerits of use of nano fertilisers in terms of crop productivity, nutritional quality of crop produced, soil health, etc.; so that it may be optimally adopted by the farmers as replacement to conventional fertilisers”.

These field trials should be conducted in coordination with various research organisations and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), among others.

The panel also asked the department to allocate sufficient funds for developing innovative nano-fertilisers. It also felt that more drones should be introduced on a war footing for the application of nano-fertilisers.

The report highlighted that nano Urea is rising as a very important supplement to chemical fertiliser.

During the last two and a half years, 9.32 crore bottles of nano urea have

been sold, which is equivalent to 42 lakh tonnes of conventional urea.

“Similarly, Nano DAP has found excellent acceptance by the farmers. By the end of 2024, more than 3 crore bottles of Nano DAP have been produced, and out of them 2.16 crore bottles have been sold, which is equivalent to 10.82 LMT of conventional DAP, which would have been imported,” it added.