MIXED BAG

摘要

THE YEAR 2007-08 ENDED WITH A mixed bag, characterised by surge in demand for fertilisers, low availability from domestic production, high imports, and lingering uncertainties in fertiliser policies. Thanks to good monsoon, the growth in consumption of fertiliser nutrients (N+P+K) during 2007-08 was higher by 6.3% over the previous year. Overall precipitation was 5% above the normal. Good rainfall, coupled with high consumption of fertilisers, led to a record production of foodgrains at 230.7 million tonnes compared to 217.3 million tonnes achieved during 2006-07. So far as fertiliser consumption is concerned, the country has been experiencing continued high growth during the last four year period. During the past two years (2006-07 and 2007-08), the growth in consumption of fertiliser nutrients was over 6% per annum and in the preceding two years (2004-05 and 2005-06), it was between 10 and 11% per annum.