The Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers desired that the Department of Fertilizers should gear up its efforts to meet the progressive or the exponential demand of Nano liquid urea that may surge up in the near future.
“Immediate measures are needed to be taken to facilitate transfer of Nano Fertilizers technology by IFFCO to other PSUs to enhance its production”, the committee said in its 44th report on the subject ‘Fertilizer Subsidy Policy and Pricing matters including need to continue the Urea Subsidy Scheme’ pertaining to the Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
The committee chaired by Dr. Shashi Tharoor presented its report to Lok Sabha on 9th August 2023 and on the same day it was laid in Rajya Sabha.
The Committee found to their satisfaction that IFFCO had started Nano urea production at its Kalol unit in August, 2021 with an annual capacity of 4.95 crore bottles of 500 ml and at its Aonla and Phulpur units with an annual capacity of 6.0 crore bottles of 500 ml.
“Furthermore, IFFCO is establishing 3 more plants of Nano liquid urea. The Bengaluru and Deoghar plants have an annual capacity of 6.0 crore bottles while the Guwahati plant has the annual capacity of 4.95 crore bottles”, the committee report added.
It reads, “Besides, National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) and Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited (RCF) have signed Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) & Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IFFCO to transfer the technology of Nano Urea from IFFCO”.
RCF’s Nano urea facility at Trombay is likely to be commissioned by March, 2024 and NFL’s Nano urea facility at Nangal by July, 2024. While commending these steps, the Committee would like the Department to take all such measures necessary to ensure that the expected target of producing 44 crore bottles of Nano urea by 2024-25 is achieved within the stipulated time, the report reads.
Besides, the Department has submitted that with the availability of Nano liquid urea, there will not be any need to set up new plants or revive conventional 28 urea plants.
However, as reported to the Committee, the results of Nano liquid urea are yet to be assessed and presently it cannot fulfil the requirements of fertilizers in the country.
In this regard, the Committee are of the opinion that this is an area which requires Department’s utmost attention and, therefore, correct assessment of the results of Nano liquid urea should be expeditiously done so that Nano urea meets the requirements of fertilizers in the country in a convincing manner in the near future, the report reads.
