Lok Sabha Question No. 3674 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Promotion of Nano Fertilizers
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3674 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 21.03.2025

## Promotion of Nano Fertilizers

## 3674. SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY:

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

- (a) the  total  investment  made  in  the  development  and  promotion  of  nano fertilizers over the last five years;
- (b) whether  any  proposals  have  been  considered  to  introduce  nano  fertilizers under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme;
- (c) the number  of  drones  funded  by  the Government  for  promoting  the application of nano fertilizers, along with the budgetary provisions made for this purpose;
- (d) the extent to which farmers in Bihar have been supported or incentivized to use  nano  fertilizers  and  the  specific  initiatives  taken  to  promote  nano fertilizers in the State; and
- (e) whether any special schemes or programs are being implemented to ensure the  accessibility  and  affordability  of  nano  fertilizers  for  small  and  marginal farmers, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- ( a): The Government of India is not directly involved in setting up of Nano Fertilizers Plants. As per the information provided by companies, the total investment made in the development and promotion of nano fertilizers over the last five years is as under :-

(Rs.in lacs)

| S.No.   | Company Name                                      |   Capital Expenditure |   Revenue Expenditure |   Total Expenditure |
|---------|---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|---------------------|
| 1       | M/s Coromandel International Limited              |               5000    |               3609    |             8609    |
| 2       | M/s Meghmani Crop Nutrition Limited               |               6824.96 |               3241.39 |            10066.4  |
| 3       | M/s Paradeep Phosphates Ltd                       |               3065    |                240    |             3305    |
| 4       | M/s Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited |               1981.91 |                300.84 |             2282.75 |
| 5       | M/s Ray Nano Science & Research Centre            |               4300    |               1452.26 |             5752.26 |
|         | Total                                             |              21171.9  |               8843.49 |            30015.4  |

- (b): At present, there is no proposal to bring production of nano fertilizers under any Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

(c)  : For promoting the application of nanofertilizers,1094 drones have been distributed  to  drone  didis  of  SHGs  by  15  Fertilizer  Companies  in  2023-24,  using  their internal resources.

(d) & (e):  In order to promote the use of Nano Fertilizers amongst the farmers across the country, including the State of Bihar, 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,  nukkadnataks,  field  demonstrations,  Kisan  Sammelans and films in regional languages etc.
- iv. Nano  Urea  and  Nano  DAPare  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.

The prices of Nano Urea and Nano DAP are fixed by the Fertilizer Companies.

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