Nano DAP and Nano Urea Flashcards
NEWS
The Department of Fertilisers conducted an audit which revealed a variation of 25-50% in the reduction of nitrogen use after the application of nano urea.
The use of nano urea can help the government save approximately USD 3 billion (around Rs 24,687 crore) in subsidy bills annually and reduce India’s dependence on urea imports.
What are Nano Fertilisers?
Nano fertilisers are highly efficient types of fertilisers that provide nutrients like nitrogen to crops through fine granules.
Nitrogen is an essential macronutrient for plant functions, and urea is one of the most concentrated nitrogenous fertilisers.
Nano Urea Liquid:
Nano urea liquid was developed in 2022 by Indian Farmers and Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) to replace conventional urea and reduce its requirement by 50%.
The government has heavily promoted the use of nano fertilisers since its development.
Significance:
Reduce Losses:
Nano fertilisers exploit the nanoscale porous domains on plant surfaces to deliver nutrients, improve the effectiveness of nitrogen delivery, and reduce losses to the environment.
Increase Farmers’ Income:
It is easy on the pocket of farmers and will be effective in increasing farmers’ income. It will also significantly bring down the cost of logistics and warehousing.
A small bottle of 500 millilitres nano urea spray is said to be a substitute for a full bag of 45 kilogrammes urea.
Making Crops Stronger:
It will also reduce the excess use of Urea application in the soil and will make the crops stronger, healthier and protect them from lodging effect.
Lodging is the bending over of the stems near ground level of grain crops, which makes them very difficult to harvest, and can dramatically reduce yield.
Challenges:
Cost: The cost of producing nano-fertilizers is higher than conventional fertilizers due to the advanced technology and production methods used.
This has made them unaffordable for small farmers and resulted in limited access to this technology.
Quality Control: The production of nano-fertilizers requires strict quality control measures to ensure their effectiveness and safety.
However, the lack of standardized regulations for their production and distribution has resulted in poor quality control and inconsistent results.
Environmental Concerns: There are concerns about the potential environmental impact of nano-fertilizers, such as their long-term effects on soil health, water quality, and ecosystem balance.
These concerns must be addressed through proper testing and regulation to ensure their sustainable use.
What is Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited?
About:
It is one of India’s biggest cooperative societies which is wholly owned by Indian Cooperatives.
Founded in 1967 with just 57 cooperatives, today it is an amalgamation of over 36,000 Indian Cooperatives with diversified business interests ranging from General Insurance to Rural Telecom apart from its core business of manufacturing and selling fertilisers.
Objective:
To enable Indian farmers to prosper through timely supply of reliable, high quality agricultural inputs and services in an environmentally sustainable manner and to undertake other activities to improve their welfare.
