Giving details on production and reach of Nano urea, Union Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilizers Bhagwanth Kuba explained the present quantum of Nano Urea production and roadmap for its future growth in Lok Sabha.
The Minister also explained in detail the names of countries where the govt has allowed IFFCO to sell Nano Urea. These countries include Sri Lanka, Nepal, Suriname, Kenya, Philippines, Malaysia, Mexico, Maldives, Singapore, Myanmar, Canada, UAE, Nigeria, USA, Dubai, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Mauritius, Colombia, Jordan, Denmark, Zambia, Brazil, CostaRica, Malawi and Mozambique”.
During 2021-22, 212 lakh bottles of Nano Urea were sold within the country whereas 3.06 lakh bottles (500 ml each) were exported to Sri Lanka, said the Minister.
In 2022-23 (12th December, 2022), 201 lakh bottles were sold within the country where as 0.6 lakh bottles (500 ml each) of Nano Urea were exported to Nepal, said Union Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilizers Bhagwanth Kuba while reply to a query raised by one of the Lok Sabha members.
“Department of Fertilizer has accorded the permission to IFFCO to export the Nano Urea (Liquid) fertiliser to various international buyers from countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Suriname, Kenya, etc ,” he added.
“Two Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) namely National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF) have also signed MoUs with IFFCO for transfer of technology of Nano Urea with a view to set up 8 more Nano urea plants (with a production capacity of 44 crore bottles per year in the country”, his reply informed.
The all India demand of Nano Urea, furnished by States and UTs for Rabi 2022-23 season is 19855060, Kuba said.
It bears recalling that IFFCO Nano Urea is next-generation fertilizers benefiting farmers and the environment. This product is instrumental in reducing soil, air, and water pollution. One of the interesting aspects of Nano urea is reduction in import, leading to huge savings in terms of subsidies.
Price of Nano Urea (liquid) is Rs 225 / 500 ml bottle. It is 16 % less than the price of a 45 Kg bag of conventional Urea. Nano Urea (liquid) when sprayed on the leaves easily enters through stomata and other openings and fulfils nitrogen requirements of crops.
Because of its unique size and higher surface area to volume ratio, it effectively addresses crop nutrient requirements which results in reduced nutritional stress, better growth, and yield attributes of crops.
Further, Nano fertilizers were validated for bio-safety and bio-toxicity as per the “Guidelines for Evaluation of Nano based Agri Input and Food Products in India” of Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt of India. These tests were essential for including Nano urea under Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) – 1985 as provisional fertilizer.