Improving Efficiency in Fertiliser Marketing to Meet Future Challenges of Indian Agriculture

摘要

The continuing growth in India's population and stagnating/declining growth rates in agriculture calls for increase in foodgrain production from its current level of 215 mt to 300 mt by 2025.To produce the required food and other commodities,nutrient demand is expected to reach 45 mt.Undoubtedly,fertiliser consumption in future will grow but the future growth,if continues on the same pattern(inadequate and unbalanced)as seen in the past,would fail to revert existing trend of stagnation in crop production and productivity.Revival of green revolution for a foodgrain driven agricultural nation like India with 65% agrarian population is essential and important for better livelihood of the farmers,for the growth of fertiliser industry and finally for improved GDP of the nation.Concerted efforts are needed in a mission mode to promote balanced and efficient use of nutrients in adequate quantities through external sources,particularly fertilisers engulfing best management practices.We have to take full advantage of the wealth of information generated through research during the last 4 decades and the experience gained by the industry in promoting fertiliser use in the country.Reorientation of fertiliser promotional strategies through re-energized extension services of the government departments and the fertiliser industry would be essential to tackle multi-facet problems of soil fertility and plant nutrition emerging under actual field conditions.To achieve the goal of balanced plant nutrition,faithful soil testing service and availability of all the fertiliser inputs of genuine quality at right time and at right place' and the knowledge needed to correct the existing nutrient deficiencies should be made available.The valuable research findings which have waited for long to find place in the Government policy need to be well blended with the fertiliser and agriculture policies to revive "Green Revolution" which has been showing a sign of fatigue for the last 15years.To ensure adequate and timely input supply,marketing system should be energized and strengthened.A new pro-industry and pro-farmers policy is urgently needed.Value addition in fertilisers and agricultural produce would be essential to make agriculture more efficient and profitable.Human resource development to address the varied and complex problems would be important.We must also develop "Champion Farmers" at Panchayat level to educate large group of farmers for more profitable agriculture.