Answers: Fertilizer is defined as any organic or inorganic substance, supplying one or more of the nutrients required for plant growth. India is the second biggest consumer of fertilizer in the world next only to China.

Fertilizers are classified as Primary, Secondary and Micronutrients.

• Primary fertilizers are further classified on the type of nutrients they supply to soil such as nitrogenous (urea), phosphatic (Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP)) and potassic (muriate of potash (MOP)) fertilizers.
• Secondary fertilizer includes calcium, magnesium, and Sulphur 
• Micronutrients include iron, zinc, boron, chloride etc.

Concerns associated with the use of fertiliser in India

• Fiscal Concerns

• High government subsidies: such as on Urea and DAP. About 0.73 lakh crore or 5 percent of GDP, the second-highest after food 
• Heavy Import dependence: Entire potash requirement, about 90% of the Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) requirement and 20% of urea requirement is met through imports annually. 

• Accessibility and Quality Concerns

• Limited reach: Small Farmer are unable to derive full benefits as only 17,500 crores or 35 % of total fertiliser subsides reaches small farmers.
• Alarming Shift in Nutrient Ratios: The use of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) has sharply deviated from the ideal NPK use ratio of 4:2:1 to about 12:5:1 in the recent 2022 kharif season. This causes worsening of soil quality

• Environmental Concerns

• Environmental pollution: Excessive use of fertilizers containing substances like nitrates and phosphates  contribute to Eutrophication and harming aquatic life.
• Nitrogen-based fertilizers emit nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, exacerbating climate change
• Soil degradation: Over-reliance on urea negatively affects soil fertility, crop quality, and invites pest attacks. It causes damage to plants through reduced fertility and ammonia toxicity.

Initiatives taken for efficient use of fertilisers

• PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother – Earth (PM-PRANAM): It was announced in Budget 2023-24 to incentivize States and UTs to promote alternate fertilizers and balanced use of chemical fertilizers.
• One Nation One Fertilizers scheme was announced by Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers under Fertilizer Subsidy Scheme named “Pradhanmantri Bhartiya Janurvarak Pariyojna” (PMBJP) to ensure timely supply of fertilizers.
• Liquid 'Nano Urea': IFFCO launched liquid 'Nano Urea' in 2021. Recently, first Liquid Nano Urea (LNU) plant was inaugurated in Gujarat to boost productivity and help increase their income.
• Fertilizer Flying Squads (FFS): It was constituted by Department of Fertilizers to stop diversion and black marketing.
• Nutrient Based Subsidy scheme: Under this, a fixed rate of subsidy (in Rs. per Kg basis) is announced on nutrients namely Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P), Potash (K) and Sulphur (S) by the government on annual basis.
• Soil Health Card scheme provides crop-wise recommendations of nutrients and fertilizers required for the individual farms.
• In 2015, Indian government mandated neem-coating of all urea.

Fertiliser subsidies, constituting approximately 0.8% of GDP, not only prove financially burdensome but also contribute to soil damage, posing a threat to rural incomes and agricultural productivity. Reforming the fertiliser sector is crucial for farmers and overall efficiency. Post-PLI scheme, efforts should extend to enhancing the business environment with transparent policies and prioritizing skill development.