Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Overuse of Urea in India and its Implications - Coggle Diagram
Overuse of Urea in India and its Implications
Central idea
Unbalanced fertilization
Several measures failed
Rising urea consumption
What is Urea?
Made from ammonia and carbon dioxide
When applied in the right amounts, it can improve crop yields
Crystalline solid soluble in water
Commonly used nitrogen-containing
fertiliser, 46% by weight
Fertilizer usage in India
Farmers use an excessive amount of urea as non-urea varieties such as MoP, DAP
India is a major buyer of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP)
India has consumed about 500 LMT of
fertilizer over the last ten years
In 2021, India was the top importer of urea and imported more than a fourth of its urea need
Policy moves
related to Urea
2018: govt replaced 50-kg urea bags with 45-kg bags
2021: IFFCO launched a liquid fertiliser called ‘Nano Urea’
2015: the government mandated the neem-coating of all urea manufactured in India
Ineffectiveness of
above measures
Consumption dip reversed since 2019
Nutrient-based subsidy (NBS), 2010 failed
35.7 million tonnes (mt) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023
Urea consumption in the country has not decreased
Cost of overdose
Crop yield response has decreased
Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) has declined in India
Led to an imbalance in nutrient application
Way forward
Encouraging precision agriculture
Promoting crop rotation and intercropping
Promoting the use of organic fertilisers
Increasing public awareness and education
Disincentivise, Reduce subsidies