Lok Sabha Question No. 4673 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-28
Subject: Promotion of Nano Fertilizers
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri Dushyant Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4673 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 28.03.2025

## Promotion of Nano Fertilizers

## 4673. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  widespread  awareness  and adoption of Nano Urea and Nano DAP among farmers, particularly in rural areas;
- (b) the  measures  being  taken  to  ensure  the  availability  of  Nano  fertilizers  in remote and in accessible areas;
- (c) whether there are any ongoing studies by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research(ICAR)  or  other  research  institutions  on  the  long-term  impact  of Nano fertilizers on soil health and productivity; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

- (a) & (b):  In order to promote the use of Nano Fertilizers amongst the farmers,the following steps have been taken:
- i. Government of India has pursued with the states on use of Nano fertilizer at  various  forums. In the Zonal conference for assessment of fertilizers for  Kharif  2024  season,  held  from  5th  February  to  9th  February,  2024, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) requested the State  Governments to promote the  use of nano fertiliser  in  their  states through their extension machinery.
- ii. DA&FW during the Rabi, 2024-25 season assessed the requirement of Nano  Urea  and  Nano  DAP.  DA&FW  vide  letter  dated  3rd  July,  2023 informed  all  the  State  Govt.  /  UTS  /ICAR  institutes  to  include  FCO approved application of Nano-fertilizers as critical inputs in the cafeteria of interventions for demonstrations (Cluster Demonstrations/ Block Demonstrations/ Cluster Front Line Demonstrations/ Front Line Demonstrations)  to  be  conducted  under  NFSM/  NMEO  as  per  SAUs/ ICARs recommended package of practices.
- iii. Use  of  Nano  Urea  is  promoted  through  different  activities  such  as awareness camps, webinars, nukkad nataks, field demonstrations, Kisan Sammelans and films in regional languages etc.
- iv. Nano Urea and Nano DAP are made available at Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras (PMKSKs) by concerned companies.
- v. Nano  Urea  has  been  included  under  monthly  supply  plan  issued  by Department of Fertilizers regularly.
- vi. ICAR through Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal recently organized National Campaign on 'Efficient and Balanced Use of Fertilizer (including Nano-fertilizers)'.
- vii. Promotion  of  use  of  nano  fertilizers  was  done  during  the  Viksit  Bharat Sankalp Yatra (VBSY) which was launched on 15th November, 2023.
- viii. For ease in application and utilization of Nano fertilizers like Nano Urea through foliar application, initiatives such as innovative spraying options like 'Kisan Drones' and distribution of battery operated Sprayers at retail points are undertaken. For this purpose, pilot training and custom hiring spraying services through Village Level Entrepreneurs  are  actively promoted.
- ix. DoF  in  collaboration  with  fertilizer  companies  has  initiated  a  Maha Abhiyan for adoption  of  Nano  DAP  in  all  15  agro-climatic  zones  of  the country  through  consultations  and  field  level  demonstrations.  Further, DoF in collaboration with fertilizer companies has also launched campaign  for  field  level  demonstrations  and  awareness  programs  of Nano Urea plus in 100 districts of the country.

(c)  &  (d):    Indian  Council  of  Agriculture  Research  (ICAR)  research  institutes  (20), KVKs (30) and state Agricultural Universities (25) have carried out nano urea (liquid) and Nano DAP trials on different crops (> 20 crops) such as Paddy, Wheat, Maize, Sorghum, Finger millet, Bajra, Groundnut, Mustard Pulse, Fodder, Cotton, Tomato, Chilly,  Cabbage,  Cucumber,  Capsicum,  Onion,  Zinger,  Turmeric,  Cassava  and Elephant foot yam covering 15 agro-climatic zones. Impact of nano urea varies with the  crops.  On  an  average  it  saved  upto  8-12  %  fertilizer  nitrogen  along  with recommended package of practices.  Application of nano urea (02 spray) with 100% RDF in rajma has no adverse impact on soil nutrients content.  There is no significant change in the soil mineral N concentration for 75 % RDF + 1 NU spray for wheat, however soil N content decreased (10-15%) in rice (Patna). In okra and bottle gourd, application of 75% RDF + 2spray of nano urea can replace N requirement by 25.0 % of foliar application but recorded depletion of soil mineral N (20-25%). Application of 100  %  N  +  one  nano  urea  spray  significantly  decreased  the  cyanogen  (bitterness compound) in casava at Thiruvananthapuram (CTCRI). Combined use of chemical fertilizers (50% RDN) + two foliar nano urea spray + zinc application exhibited on par dry fodder production but elevated protein content (1-2%) and reduced fiber fractions in fodder maize at Karnal.

The project "Effect of Nano Urea and DAP and popularization of its use in crop production,"  is  undertaken  at  ICAR  from  2024  to  2026,  to  evaluate  the  impact  of Nano Urea and DAP on crop growth, soil health, and nutrient uptake across various agro-ecological zones in India.

An MoU was signed between National Productivity Council (NPC) of India and Department of Fertilizers on 5th March, 2024 to undertake the study of Nano Urea on "Evaluating Efficacy, Utility and Impact of Nano Urea in comparison to Conventional Urea.