India Develops First Indigenous Water-Soluble Fertilizer Technology to Boost Sustainable Agriculture.

Introduction

India has reached a new level in the Indian agricultural market with its first ever indigenously developed water-soluble fertilizer (WSF) technology. This development is intended to improve nutrient utilization, a reduction of reliance on expensive fertilizer imports and encourages sustainable cropping practices. The effort is part of India’s attempt to reconcile food security with ecological security, making it a pioneering endeavor in farming technology.

So What Exactly are Water-Soluble Fertilizers (WSFs)?

Water-soluble fertilizers Water-soluble fertilizers (WSF) are a type of fertilizer that can dissolve in water and therefore can be added to irrigation and used as a spray.

They guarantee fast nutrient consumption by the plants – higher than standard fertilizers.

Types Most common include blends (such as NPK); micronutrient-enriched fertilizers; and special-purpose blends.

Applications of WSFs are, especially, in horticulture, high-value crops and precision farming.

It is India’s First Indigenous WSF Technology.

Indigenously developed with domestic R&D (Involving Indian agricultural research institutes and fertilizer companies), this is the first of its kind fully indigenous technology for manufacturing of WSFs.

India has been importing WSFs in large quantities mainly from China and other countries which has been a major reason for high cost and supply chain risk.

The indigenous technology will help:

Reduce reliance on imports and save foreign exchange.

Make available tailor-made formulations wich will be suitable to Indian soils and crops.

Cheaper inputs for farmers, higher yields.

Why This Matters?

Reducing Import Dependency

India is dependant on imports of 70–80% of the water-soluble fertilizers and is vulnerable.

Indigenous technology accords with self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in the fertilizer sector.

Boosting Nutrient Efficiency

The high purchase and transportation costs also make WSFs more NUE than that obtained from traditional urea and DAP, thereby reducing wastage and soil degradation.

Greater efficiency also leads to less fertilizer required per acre, which lowers costs for farmers.

Sustainable Agriculture

The mass application of composite fertilizers on the soil leads to soil salinization and polluted underground water, with a number of greenhouse gases emitted in the course.

WSFs can facilitate precision agriculture with the application of the necessary nutrients only, thereby promoting climate-smart agriculture.

Enhancing Crop Productivity

Especially beneficial for cash crops such as fruit, vegetables, cotton and tea.

Assists in the cause of increasing farmer’s income by increasing productivity and quality of produce.

The Government’s Fertilizer Reforms A government press to have fertilizer changes implemented.EditorButton: Ali Raza.

Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme: To promote balanced use of fertilizers, NBS Scheme was introduced to provide a subsidy on non-urea fertilizers.

Soil Health Card Scheme: To encourage judicious use of fertilizers.

PM-PRANAM Scheme (2023)- Reward to states who will reduce the use of chemical fertilizers.

This indigenous WSF technology is in synchronization with these plans in achieving eco-friendly, balanced fertilizer application. Global Context

Around the world, there have been early adopters of WSF application, such as Israel, the Netherlands and the USA, primarily through drip fertigation.

India’s move helps to ensure it keeps up pace with the rest of the world in adopting the best practices of precision agriculture.

UPSC Relevance

Prelims

Queries on: Type of Fertilizers (NPK, WSFs, Nano-fertilizers).

Programs like NBS, Soil Health Card, PM-PRANAM.

Latest on Atmanirbhar Bharat in agriculture.

Mains

GS-3 (Agriculture & Economy):

“Examine the importance of water soluble fertilizers in enhancing nutrient use efficiency and sustainable agriculture in India.”

“Examine critically the fertilizer subsidy system in India in the context of the new subsidized, indigenous fertilizer technologies.”

PYQ Reference

UPSC Mains GS-3 (2019):

Q5: “Discuss the extent to which integrated farming system is found useful to​ sustain agricultural production.”

Challenges in Implementation

Expensive WSFS than the convention fertilizers.

The knowledge deficit of farmers, however, in respect to fertigation techniques.

Infrastructure requirement of drip and micro irrigation system.

Last mile access in rural and tribal areas.

Way Forward

Increase in Production by PPP models to reduce the cost.

Awareness & Training to farmers by Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).

Coupling with Micro-Irrigation What we will get out of it We will get all these benefits 32.

Optimal Fertilizer Use of balanced use of fertilizers through judicious Apln of fertilizers based on Soil testing. via linkage of UDID like farmer ID’s with Soil Health Cards data.