The Standing Committee on Chemical & Fertilizers in its report on Nano Fertilizers listed the benefits of Nano urea and wanted the govt’s fertilizer PSUs to adopt the nanotechnology-based plants for its multiple benefits to the farmers.
The Committee recommended that the Ministry of Fertilizers should allocate a sizable amount for nanotechnology-based research activities through its fertilizer PSUs. The committee, which is headed by Lok Sabha Member Shashi Tharoor, said, “Fertilizer PSUs should be fully supported for work on common research projects along with IFFCO so that they contribute in development of varied Nano fertilizers (both macro and micro nutrient based) and help to achieve self-reliance in the Indian Fertilizer Sector.
There are several benefits of Nano fertilizers like they cost less than the subsidized conventional fertilizers. Also, IFFCO field trials have shown that a 500 ml bottle of Nano Urea can replace one 45 Kg. bag of conventional urea and thus can curtail the requirement of the same by at least 50 per cent. The current MRP of IFFCO’s Nano Urea is Rs. 240 per 500 ml bottle which is approx. 10% less than the conventional 45 Kg, underlined the report presented to Lok Sabha on 21st March 2023.
As per an interim report of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), if India’s 50 percent of rice cultivation area is brought under Nano Urea, it would lead to reduction in GreenHouse Gas emission by 4.6 million tonnes. Even if 20-30 per cent of the urea that is going waste can be replaced and utilised, then the issue of greenhouse gas emission can be appropriately addressed, the report asserted.
The Panel also felt that the Department of Fertilizers should expedite the process of inclusion of other Nano fertilizers, which have been developed by IFFCO and undergone sufficient field trials, under FCO to enable their commercial utilization.
While submitting its report on Nano-Fertilizers for Sustainable Crop Production and Maintaining Soil Health, the Standing Committee desired that other Nano fertilizers should be priced considerably cheaper than the prevailing price of their conventional bulk counterparts.
The report further reads, “The Committee notes that IFFCO has developed technology for producing other Nano fertilizer macronutrient grades – Nano DAP and secondary /micronutrient grades – Nano Zinc, Nano Copper, Nano Boron, Nano Sulphur, etc”.
The Committee also discussed Nano Urea technology transfer. IFFCO is planning to transfer the Nano Urea technology to Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL) and The Fertilisers And Chemicals Travancore Limited. The Panel felt that a favorable decision would be taken by IFFCO this time too on an urgent basis with a view to enhancing the production of Nano urea.
Earlier, IFFCO transferred the technology to NFL and RCF without any royalty. The NFL and RCF are setting up their plants with the technology transfer at Nangal in Punjab and Trombay in Maharashtra, respectively.
The Panel also recommended that Companies and corporate houses’ CSR funds to provide the facility of drones to the farmers for spray of Nano Urea at subsidized rates or free of cost.