Lok Sabha Question No. 828 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-07
Subject: Promotion of Nano Urea and Nano DAP
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri Vishaldada Prakashbapu Patil

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 828 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 07.02.2025

## Promotion of Nano Urea and Nano DAP

## 828: SHRI  VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL:

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

- (a) whether the Government is promoting nano urea and nano DAP as alternatives to conventional fertilizers;
- (b) if so, the details of the expected reduction in fertilizer subsidy through the adoption of  Nano  Urea  and  Nano  DAP  and  the  methodology  used  to  calculate  these projections;
- (c) whether farmers were coerced into purchasing Nano Urea products;
- (d) if so, the corrective measures taken by the Government regarding the same;
- (e) whether the Government has conducted/plans to conduct independent, long-term studies on the effectiveness of Nano Fertilizers before their large-scale promotion; and
- (f) whether there is any plan of the Government to review the approval for Nano Urea plus production and use in light of the concerns raised by agricultural experts and farmers' experiences?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): Yes,.
- (b): Nano Fertilizers are still in the initial state of experimentation and the increase in sales and subsequent impact of Nano Fertilizers on conventional Urea depends on the level of adoption of Nano Fertilizers by the farmers. Therefore, the potential reduction in fertilizer  subsidies  through  the  adoption  of  Nano  Urea  and  Nano  DAP,  cannot  be accurately estimated at this stage.
- (c) & (d):  Department of Fertilizers is actively encouraging its fertilizer companies and state governments to promote the adoption of Nano Fertilizers among farmers.
- (e) & (f):  The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) has provisionally notified  Nano  Urea  as  Nano  Nitrogen  Fertilizers  under  the  Fertilizer  Control  Order

(FCO),  1985,  based  on  bio-efficacy  trials  conducted  at  multiple  locations  by  Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutions and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs),  along  with  bio-safety  test  results.  These  trials,  conducted  on  crops  such  as paddy,  wheat,  mustard,  maize,  tomato,  cabbage,  cucumber,  capsicum,  and  onion across different agro-climatic zones, demonstrated that two foliar sprays of Nano Urea, when applied as a top dressing along with the recommended basal dose of nitrogen, resulted in comparable yields to those obtained with a full recommended nitrogen dose. This led to a yield advantage of 3-8% and a urea saving of 25-50% in various crops.

Similarly,  Government of India has also notified Nano DAP under the Fertilizer Control  Order  (FCO),  1985,  based  on  the  bio-efficacy  trials  and  toxicology  tests. Companies  like  M/s  Coromandel  International  Limited  (CIL),  M/s  Rashtriya  Chemical and  Fertilizers  Limited  (RCF),  M/s  Zuari  Farm  Hub  Limited,  and  M/s  Indian  Farmers Fertiliser  Cooperative  Limited  (IFFCO)  have  been  granted  permission  to  manufacture Nano DAP. Preliminary field trials conducted at selected ICAR institutes involved its use for seed treatment and two foliar applications. The study indicated that Nano DAP can be effectively used as a foliar spray instead of conventional Urea/DAP for top dressing (33% of the recommended dose) without significant yield penalty.

Moreover, an MoU was signed on 5th March, 2024 between National Productivity Council  (NPC)  of  India  and  Department  of  Fertilizers  to  undertake  the  study  of  Nano Urea so that its efficacy, impact and potential to replace the conventional Urea can be ascertained. Further, ICAR is conducting a study to evaluate the impact of Nano Urea and DAP on crop growth, soil health, and nutrient uptake across various agro-ecological zones in India.

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