Minister lauds IFFCO’s Nano range in Parliament; says Govt for all support

Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Mansukh Mandaviya has said that the govt is lending all support to IFFCO’s effort to produce Nano fertilizer in the country. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha Mandaviya said “IFFCO has developed nanotechnology-based Nano Urea (Liquid) fertilizer that aims to address the imbalanced and excessive use of conventional Urea”.

The govt news agency PIB release on the issue reads “Government is encouraging the production of Nano fertilizers in the country. The Department of Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmers Welfare vide notification No. S.O.884 (E) dated 24th February 2021 had notified for inclusion of any Nano fertilizer in Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) which will necessarily comply with the guidelines stipulated in the notification.

“Further, in pursuance of Clause 20D of Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare vide notification no S.O.885 (E) dated 24th February 2021 had notified the specification in respect of “Nano urea (liquid) fertilizer” to be manufactured by M/s Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative (IFFCO) in India for a period of three years”, read the release.

The Minister also said in his written reply that IFFCO Nano aims to improve crop productivity, soil health and nutritional quality of the produce.

A dream project for IFFCO MD Dr U S Awasthi, Nano urea is being dispatched from its mother plant Kalol in Gujarat to the farmers of various states. Realizing its game-changing potential, Ministers, CMs and Governors are in the vanguard of popularizing Nano and exhorting farmers for its extensive use.

In an exclusive interview given to Indian Cooperative, while the idea of Nano was still at the nascent stage, IFFCO MD had said seamless production and wide acceptance of Nano range of fertilizers among the farmers of the country would be the climax of his career. It would be something akin to the Amul idea that crystallized in the mind of Verghese Kurien, added IFFCO Director R P Singh. Nano urea is to Awasthi what Amul was to Kurien, he added.

Besides Kalol where the production of Nano Urea is going on in full swing, IFFCO is coming up with Nano productions centres in Aonla in UP and Paradeep in Odisha, as of now. The biggest Nano Urea plant is being planned here in Paradeep. IFFCO is also in the process of setting up Nano Urea plants at Brazil and Argentina.

Reports of farmers welcoming Nano urea and using it extensively are coming from various parts of the country. Recently the IFFCO MD tweeted a catchy picture in which farmers are lining up to buy the IFFCO Nano Urea bottles in Champaran district of Bihar. “It’s a so satisfying”, said Awasthi.