The Indian government is actively promoting the use of nano-fertilisers during the current Rabi sowing season. This push is driven by worries about the supply of traditional granular fertilisers. Demand for conventional fertilisers has increased significantly, alongside a rise in the area of land being cultivated this year.
Official figures show a substantial jump in fertiliser sales in early November compared to last year. Urea sales were 6.18 lakh litres, up from 2.58 lakh litres a year ago. Similarly, Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) sales rose to 3.49 lakh litres from 1.43 lakh litres. Muriate of Potash (MOP) sales reached 0.49 lakh litres, compared to 0.27 lakh litres previously. Complex fertiliser sales also doubled to 3.10 lakh litres from 1.60 lakh litres.
Alongside increased fertiliser demand, the total area under cultivation has grown by 27 per cent. As of November 10, over 130 lakh hectares were sown, compared to 102 lakh hectares a year earlier.
The Ministry of Agriculture is taking a keen interest in this development. Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi recently met with farmers and scientists to assess the potential of nano-fertilisers as an immediate alternative. Feedback from farmers who have used nano-urea and nano-DAP was mixed. Some reported positive results, while others expressed doubts.
Sources within the government have noted a general reluctance among Indian farmers to adopt this new technology. This contrasts with the “enthusiasm” seen in countries like the United States, where farmers appear more open to nano-technology.
IFFCO, a major fertiliser cooperative that developed nano-fertiliser technology, is actively trying to convince farmers to use treated seeds. Lakhbir Singh, a wheat farmer from Punjab, is trialling nano-DAP treated seeds on one acre of his 45-acre farm. He explained that due to high cultivation costs, he did not want to risk his entire crop. He plans to expand usage if the results are promising.
Experts suggest that treating seeds with nano-DAP before sowing wheat could be more effective than applying it directly to the field. This method may reduce the need for separate phosphate applications and yield similar results. IFFCO aims to significantly boost sales of its nano-urea and nano-DAP products in the coming fiscal year, with targets set for increasing bottle sales from 3.75-4.5 crore to potentially 6 crore bottles by FY 2026-27.
IFFCO claims that the sale of nano-fertilisers in the past year has saved the use of 18 lakh tonnes of conventional granular fertilisers. One 500 ml bottle of nano-urea is equivalent to a 45 kg bag of granular urea, and a bottle of nano-DAP replaces a 50 kg bag of conventional DAP.
However, some agriculture experts have raised questions about the actual usage of these nano-fertiliser bottles in the fields. They suggest that sometimes nano-fertilisers are bundled with granular bags, making it unclear how many are truly being applied on the ground.
Despite these concerns, IFFCO maintains that integrating nano-fertilisers into India’s farming practices is a major opportunity. They believe it can transform agriculture by improving efficiency, protecting the environment, and boosting economic returns. IFFCO plans to continue educating farmers about the benefits of nano-fertilisers on a large scale.