Syllabus: Agriculture
Source: IE
Context: India has witnessed a surge in domestic urea production with significant investments in new plants to achieve self-reliance under the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
India’s Urea Capacity and Production:
- Capacity: India’s current urea production capacity stands at over 31.4 million tonnes (MT) as of 2023-24, up from 22 MT in 2011-12.
- Reduction in Imports: Urea imports have declined to 7 MT in 2023-24 from a peak of 9.8 MT in 2020-21.
- Major Plants: Key contributors include six newly commissioned plants, such as Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd (HURL), Chambal Fertilisers, and Matix Fertilisers.
Recent Growth in Urea Production in India:
- New Plants: Six greenfield plants have added 7.55 MT of urea production since 2019, with another plant at Talcher (Odisha) under development.
- Energy Efficiency: New plants are more energy-efficient, requiring about 5 GCal/tonne, compared to older plants needing 5.5-6.5 GCal/tonne.
- Strategic Locations: New facilities are focused in eastern and northern India, such as West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, addressing regional agricultural demands.
Significance of Urea Production in India:
- Agricultural Dependence: Supports increased agricultural productivity and food security.
- Reduced Imports: Saves foreign exchange and reduces dependence on volatile international markets.
- Employment Generation: Creates jobs and promotes economic activity in rural areas.
- Environmental Impact: Energy-efficient technologies in new plants reduce carbon footprints.
- Balanced Development: Promotes industrial growth in underdeveloped regions of eastern India.
Schemes for Urea Production in India:
1. Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS): Encourages balanced fertilisation and optimises subsidy allocation for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
2. Neem-Coated Urea: Introduced in 2015 to curb diversion for non-agricultural uses and improve nitrogen use efficiency.
3. Nano Urea: Launched in 2021 to reduce overuse of conventional urea and enhance crop productivity.
4. Energy Efficiency Norms: Mandated adoption of energy-efficient technologies for new urea plants.
5. Atmanirbhar Bharat Initiative: Boosts domestic manufacturing capacity to reduce reliance on imports.
Challenges:
- High Production Costs: Domestic production costs remain higher than import costs due to energy prices.
- Environmental Concerns: Excessive urea application leads to soil degradation and water pollution.
- Overdependence on Subsidies: Heavy government subsidies strain fiscal resources.
- Diversion Issues: Urea is often diverted for industrial use despite neem coating measures.
- Limited Technological Adoption: Slow adoption of advanced farming practices hampers balanced fertilisation efforts.
Way Ahead:
- Encourage Balanced Fertilisation: Promote use of Nano Urea and other eco-friendly alternatives.
- Boost Technological Advancements: Enhance energy efficiency and adopt advanced technologies in urea production.
- Strengthen Regulation: Implement stricter measures to curb diversion and ensure targeted subsidy delivery.
- Promote Regional Balance: Expand production facilities in underdeveloped regions to meet local agricultural needs.
- Public Awareness: Conduct campaigns for farmers to reduce overuse and ensure sustainable agriculture practices.
Conclusion:
India’s efforts to achieve self-reliance in urea production highlight the significance of domestic manufacturing, energy efficiency, and balanced fertilisation. While challenges remain, technological advancements and robust regulations can transform urea production into a sustainable and economically viable endeavour for the nation.
Insta Links:
PYQ:
- With reference to chemical fertilizers in India, consider the following statements: (UPSC-2020)
-
- At present, the retail price of chemical fertilizers is market-driven and not administered by the Government.
- Ammonia, which is an input of urea, is produced from natural gas.
- Sulphur, which is a raw material for phosphoric acid fertilizer, is a by-product of oil refineries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: b)
