Lok Sabha Question No. 5564 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-04
Subject: Import of Nano Urea
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Thiru Dayanidhi Maran

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  5564 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 04.04.2025

## Import of Nano Urea

## 5564. THIRU DAYANIDHI  MARAN:

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

- (a) whether  scientific  studies  and  field  trials  were  conducted  to  assess  the effectiveness of Nano Urea before its approval for large-scale use, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken note of the reports suggesting that Nano fertilizers used by the farmers were found to be inefficient and costly and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is considering reassessment of its policy for largescale promotion of Nano Urea, in light of the said reports about Nano Urea's inefficiency and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  study  on  Nano  Urea's  use impacts  on  nutritional  quality  of  staple  grains  produced,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (e) whether reports also  suggest that Punjab Agricultural University  and other institutions have found a decline in crop yield; and
- (f) if  so,  whether  the  Government  will  conduct  independent  trials  in  Tamil Nadu's agro-climatic conditions before further promoting Nano Urea in the area and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): Yes. Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) research institutes/state  agricultural  Universities  carried  out  nano  urea  trials  on  different  crops such as Paddy, Wheat, Mustard, Maize, Tomato, Cabbage, Cucumber, Capsicum and Onion in different agro-climatic zones.  The study on the effect of nano urea (liquid) on crop yield and soil indicated that nano-urea can be used as foliar spray for top-dressing instead of normal urea.  Independent study carried out by the ICAR institute on selected crops revealed that Nano urea spray along with recommended practice enhanced 0.8% growth  (height,  tillers),  1%  in  physiological  traits  (chlorophyll,  enzyme),  2%  yield attributes over 100%  RDN  in  rice.  It also significantly  decreased  the  cynogen (bitterness compound) in cassava and enhanced protein content (1-2%) and reduced fiber fractions in fodder maize.

The  Maximum  Retail  Price  (MRP)  of  45  Kg  bag  of  conventional  Urea,  after subsidy, is Rs 266.5 per bag. Against this, the MRP of Nano Urea produced by various companies are as under :

|   Sr. No | Company Name                                   | The cost of Nano Urea without subsidy (MRP)   |
|----------|------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperative Limited | Rs 225 per 500 ml bottle                      |
|        2 | Ray Nano Science & Research Centre             | Rs 225 per 500 ml bottle                      |
|        3 | Meghmani Crop Nutrition Limited                | Rs 225 per 500 ml bottle                      |
|        4 | Zuari Farm Hub Ltd                             | Rs 265 per 500 ml bottle                      |
|        5 | Coromandel International Limited               | Rs 325 per 500 ml bottle                      |

A 500 ml bottle of Nano urea is approximately equivalent to 1 bag of 45 Kg of conventional Urea.

The MRP of 50 Kg bag of conventional DAP, after subsidy, is Rs 1350 per bag. Against this, the MRP of Nano DAP produced by various companies are as under:

|   Sr. No | Company Name                                   | The cost of Nano DAP without subsidy   |
|----------|------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
|        1 | Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperative Limited | Rs 600 per 500 ml bottle               |
|        2 | Coromandel International Limited               | Rs 600 per 1 litre bottle              |
|        3 | Zuari Farm Hub Ltd                             | Rs 625 per 500 ml bottle               |

A 500 ml bottle of Nano DAP is approximately equivalent to 1 bag of 50 Kg of conventional DAP.

In case of conventional Urea and conventional DAP, Government bears the cost of subsidy for their sale, while even without any subsidy, Nano fertilizers are cheaper than conventional fertilizers.

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 agroecological zones in India.

An MoU has also been 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. Study conducted  in 8 States (AP, Assam,  Gujarat, Bihar, Karnataka, MP, Maharashtra, UP), 24 districts and 120 villages from key stakeholders viz. farmers, retailers, SAU/KVK and submitted their findings as under:

- (i) Improved Nano Urea plus with 16% Nitrogen (w/w) or 20% Nitrogen (w/v) which covers large number of crops is better for higher yield.

- (ii) Percentage  increase  in  yield  for  combined  application  of  conventional  urea (basal  dose)  and  nano  urea  (foliar  application)  as  compared  to  conventional urea  alone is  1.65-14.82%  depending upon  the crop based  on feedback from farmers(at Annexure ).
- (iii) The crop growth is better if seed treatment is done with Nano DAP.
- (iv) Conventional urea harms the population of earthworms which are beneficial for the  health  of  soil  and  the  crops.  Hence  conventional  urea  may  be  used  to  a minimum extent and the use of nano urea has to be promoted for better soil and crop health.
- (v) Nano urea does not degrade soil health as it is applied as a foliar application.

The experiments conducted by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana on IFFCO Nano Urea during 2020-2024 along with on-farm trials at 17 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of PAU and 10 farmers' fields, did not support the claims regarding yield  improvement  or  nitrogen  efficiency  with  the  use  of  nano  urea.  However,  ICAR study  recommends  using  2  foliar  sprays  of  Nano  urea,  along  with  2/3  of  the recommended N and full doses of PK, which can increase crop yields by 3-8%. Shortterm  studies  have  found  no  significant  impact  of  Nano  urea  application  on  soil properties, including soil nitrogen content.

(f) Yes. ICAR has informed that Annamalai University and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University have tested the product of IFFCO Nano Urea, in Tamil Nadu.

.

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## Annexure

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred question No. 5564 for answering on 04.04.2025

|   S.No. | Crop          | States Covered under Study                                                                    | Range of % increase in yield in different crops   |
|---------|---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Paddy         | Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra & Uttar Pradesh | 3.12 -12.74                                       |
|       2 | Wheat         | Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh                   | 3.32 -10.11                                       |
|       3 | Maize         | Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh                                       | 8.11 -12.5                                        |
|       4 | Cotton        | Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka & Maharshtra                                               | 3.58 - 10.16                                      |
|       5 | Mustard       | Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh                                                       | 8.12 -12.14                                       |
|       6 | Sugarcane     | Gujarat, Karnataka & Uttar Pradesh                                                            | 1.65 -4.00                                        |
|       7 | Chilli        | Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat & Uttar Pradesh                                                       | 7.3 -11.31                                        |
|       8 | Potato        | Assam, Gujrat & Madhya Pradesh                                                                | 4.32 -7.88                                        |
|       9 | Soyabean      | Gujarat & Karnataka                                                                           | 5.87 - 6.98                                       |
|      10 | Gram          | Andhra Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh                                                               | 2.98 - 12.76                                      |
|      11 | Groundnut     | Andhra Pradesh & Gujarat                                                                      | 7.11 - 12.00                                      |
|      12 | Onion         | Andhra Pradesh & Madhya Pradesh                                                               | 5.32 -11                                          |
|      13 | Pearl Millet  | Gujarat & Maharashtra                                                                         | 7.16 - 9.57                                       |
|      14 | Cabbage       | Madhya Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh                                                                | 7.50 -13.57                                       |
|      15 | Brinjal       | Andhra Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh                                                                | 6.7 - 14.38                                       |
|      16 | Garlic        | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                | 7.58 -12.00                                       |
|      17 | Coriander     | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                | 7.81 -12.01                                       |
|      18 | Pea           | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                 | 6.14 -14.82                                       |
|      19 | Carrot        | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                | 6.20 -10.12                                       |
|      20 | Castor        | Gujarat                                                                                       | 7.52 - 7.67                                       |
|      21 | Ragi          | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                | 3.45-7.67                                         |
|      22 | Masur         | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                | 5.73-8.00                                         |
|      23 | Moong         | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                | 5.53-7.98                                         |
|      24 | Tabacco       | Gujarat                                                                                       | 7.71-8.00                                         |
|      25 | Tomato        | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                | 3.54-6.52                                         |
|      26 | Udad          | Maharashtra                                                                                   | 5.7-9.5                                           |
|      27 | Watermelon    | Maharashtra                                                                                   | 10.83-11.02                                       |
|      28 | Arhar         | Gujarat                                                                                       | 5.9-8.1                                           |
|      29 | Banana        | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                | 5.21-7.1                                          |
|      30 | Boro/Springce | Assam                                                                                         | 3.54-8.23                                         |

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