India commercially rolls out the world’s first nano-ADP developed by IFFCO. The Centre had permitted the commercial release of Nano Di-Ammonia Phosphate (DAP) produced by IFFCO, a cooperative major, by including it in the Fertilizer Control Order. This is an important topic for the IAS exam.
What is Nano-DAP?
The introduction of Nano DAP is expected to reduce the annual subsidy on non-urea fertilizers and provide significant benefits to everyone involved in the value chain.
- Nano-DAP (Di-ammonium Phosphate) is a nanotechnology-based agri-input developed by the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO).
- Contents:
- It will have 8% nitrogen and 16% phosphorus compared to 18% nitrogen and 46% phosphorus contained in the conventional granular bag.
- Comparison with conventional DAP:
- A 500 ml bottle of nano-DAP is equal to a 50kg bag of regular DAP. The cost of a bottle of nano-DAP is ₹600 (without subsidy), while conventional DAP is priced at ₹1,350 per bag (with fertiliser subsidy).
- Patent and Royalty:
- IFFCO has obtained a 20-year patent for nano-urea and nano-DAP, entitling them to receive a 20% royalty for global usage of these products.
- Manufacturing facilities:
- Manufacturing facilities for the production of nano DAP fertilizers have been established by IFFCO in Kalol and Kandla, located in Gujarat, as well as in Paradeep, situated in Odisha.
Nano DAP Production and Usage
- IFFCO is producing Nano DAP in collaboration with Coromandel, a private player.
- Nano DAP is the second product from the nano stable after nano urea, which the government is promoting to reduce subsidies and promote the efficient use of plant chemicals.
- After urea, DAP is the second most widely used fertilizer in India. Out of the estimated annual consumption of around 10-12.5 million tonnes, local production is around 4-5 million tonnes, while the rest is imported.
Benefits of Nano DAP
- Higher crop yield:
- By treating seeds and applying Nano DAP to crops during crucial growth stages, crops can experience an increase in nutrient availability, leading to improved yields.
- Furthermore, it results in a rise in chlorophyll content in leaves, photosynthesis rate, root biomass, as well as the number of proficient tillers and branches.
- Increase in farmers’ income
- Lower input costs, increased crop yield, and improved crop quality can lead to higher income for farmers.
- Quality food
- The nutritional value of harvested food was found to be higher in protein and nutrients.
- Environment friendly
- Nano-DAP production is resource and energy efficient.
- Its use in agriculture reduces excess bulk fertilizer application and associated losses from leaching, volatilization, and run-off.
- The targeted application of nano-DAP promotes agricultural sustainability and environmental safety by reducing pollution of soil, air, and water.
- Reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers
- Nano-DAP can replace 50% of the conventional DAP’s phosphorus requirement, leading to more efficient use of chemical fertilizers by meeting critical growth stages’ nitrogen and phosphorus needs.
- Easy to store and transport
- Nano DAP is needed in smaller amounts than bulky phosphatic fertilizers like DAP, reducing logistics and making it easier for farmers to carry.
- Reduction in subsidy burden
- As the cost of the nano DAP is much less than the conventional DAP, it will help the government in reducing the cost of burden.
- It is also considered a new beginning for making India self-reliant for fertilizers.
About Nano fertilizers:
- Nano fertilizers are a type of fertilizer that is designed to be more efficient and effective in delivering nutrients to plants.
- They are produced using nanotechnology, which involves the manipulation of materials at the molecular level.
Research on Nano DAP:
- The effectiveness of nano urea has been assessed by the government through research trials with 20 Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) research institutes and State agricultural universities across 43 locations on 13 crops since 2019-20 under different agro-climatic regions.
- Nano urea was used in more than 11,000 field trials conducted on 94 crops in association with the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) – Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).
Conclusion: Including Nano DAP in the Fertilizer Control Order is a significant accomplishment towards achieving the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, as it reduces India’s dependence on imported DAP and promotes the use of indigenous technology.
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