Centre pushes chemical fertilisers alternatives as output slumps

New Delhi: India is rushing to curb reliance on chemical fertilisers after a 24.6% slump in local output in March, which triggered a push to scale up alternatives such as water-soluble nutrients, organics and biofertilisers.

The government is rolling out a targeted campaign in the top 100 districts with the heaviest use of bulk fertilisers like urea and DAP, aiming for quick, measurable results. An action plan with defined roles and timelines is being finalised to accelerate adoption and stabilise supplies, a senior official familiar with the matter said.

The government through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research has already introduced a roadmap aimed at lowering the use of chemical fertilisers, targeting a reduction of 5% in the 2026-2027 season and 25% by 2030.

Supply of critical fertilisers-urea, di-ammonium phosphate and their raw materials used for domestic manufacturing-has been disrupted due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key trade route connecting the Middle East and India, since the Iran war began in late February.

Domestic manufacturing of urea and other soil nutrients also took a hit with several manufacturers shuttering factories, as supply of LNG, a critical input, has been severely disrupted after India's largest supplier, Qatar, called force majeure.

The government has since purchased gas on spot several times at higher prices, increasing allocation to fertiliser companies. However, that has come at a higher cost.

The disruption has taken place just ahead of India's kharif season, the largest planting period that starts in June and accounts for more than half of the food-grain production. Staple crops such as oilseeds, pulses, rice, cotton, maize, and sugarcane are sown during the season, making it vital for food inflation.