Ga2007 Awasthi Slides

The Issue of Sustainability and Role of Bio-fertilizers An Indian Perspective By- Dr. US Awasthi

The Presentation Focuses On ¾ Fertiliser Consumption and Food Grains Production Scenario in India; ¾ Causes of Declining Crop Productivity; ¾ Sustainability of Farmers; ¾ Deficiency of Nutrients in Soil; ¾ Use Of Balanced Fertilisers and Biofertilisers; ¾ Comparison to other Countries; and ¾ IFFCO’s efforts to increase Crop Productivity.

Stagnation in Food grains Production in India Exploring Relationship Between Foodgrain Production & Fertilizer Consumption

• Till 1997-98 strong correlation is found between Fertilizer consumption and food grains production

20000.0

200

18000.0

180

• After 1997-98, this relationship distorted

14000.0

160

Foodgrain Production

120

10000.0

100

8000.0

80

6000.0

60

4000.0

40

2000.0

20

0.0

0

in M illio n M T

140

12000.0

2 0 0 2 -0 3

1 9 9 9 -2 0 0 0

1 9 9 6 -9 7

1 9 9 3 -9 4

1 9 9 0 -9 1

1 9 8 7 -8 8

1 9 8 4 -8 5

1 9 8 1 -8 2

1 9 7 8 -7 9

1 9 7 5 -7 6

1 9 7 2 -7 3

1 9 6 9 -7 0

1 9 6 6 -6 7

9Some states witness consumption of fertilizer picking up without any conspicuous gain on agricultural crop productivity

in '0 0 0 M T

9Most of States are experiencing increase in fertilizer consumption with slower pace of crop productivity

NPK Consumption

16000.0

The Role of Fertilisers • Increase productivity • Therefore, there has to be a positive correlation between use of fertilisers and crop yield • The crop yield is falling and not in proportionate to fertilizer consumption

Causes Of Declining Crop Productivity • Imbalanced and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers • Occurrence of multi-nutrients deficiency such as Zinc, boron, sulphur etc. besides NPK • Rain dependent agriculture - About 2/3 area • Inadequate irrigation facilities • Continuous fragmentation of land, unfavourable for adoption of technology • Land holding pattern and Predominance of marginal and small farmers

Land Holding Pattern And Sustainability Ç 80 % of Indian Farmers are Small and Marginal with operational holding of less than 1.4 hectares Ç Wheat and Rice are the two Major crops grown in India – The average yield for Wheat is 2617 Kg / Hectare and – The average yield for Rice is 2101 Kg / Hectare Ó “Minimum Support Price” (MSP) is not favourable and viable compare to net costs to farmers

Factors For Sustainability 9 9 9 9 9

Raise Farm Income Increase crop productivity through balanced use of Fertilizers Managing Cost of Inputs Increase fertilizer use efficiency Generation of Additional Income to Farmers through allied activities

Major Cause: Nutrient Deficiency In Soil Photosynthesis: CO2 + H2O Æ carbohydrates (CHO) + O2

• Besides NPK, Sulphur, Zinc And Calcium are also required in good quantity. • Other nutrients such as Iron, Boron etc. though required in small quantities, but their deficiency significantly impacts plant growth & life.

Nutrients are taken up primarily by the roots in the form of an aqueous solution in the soil

• Micronutrient deficiency (Zn, Boron, Iron & Sulphur) in Indian Soil is increasing

Innumerable experiments prove there is Significant increase in Yields by application of secondary & micronutrients along with NPK nutrients

Use Of Balanced Fertilisers • Use of Balanced Fertilisers, Organic fertilisers and Bio-fertilisers can provide viable leverage to increase crop productivity • It enrich the soil with important nutrients • Bio-fertilisers has potential to generate additional income to farmers from the same size of land • Types of Bio-fertilisers – Rhizobium, – Azotobactor, – Azospirillium

COMPARISON TO OTHER COUNTRIES Country 1

India

Average Yielf of Foodgrain + Cereals

Fertiliser Uses Kg/Ha

Egypt Yield

104.7

7050

164.1

6050

3

Bangladesh

188.6

5050

215.9

Kg/Ha

Pakistan France

India Yield

6766

271.8

6

China

275.1

1050

7

United Kingdom

315.1

50

8

Egypt

471.5

9

N. Zealand

668.5

7010

6845

4626

4789

4742

4745

3212

3159

3341

3219

6437

6542

4798

4695

4862

4791

2857

2984

3025

3025

1837

1921

1919

1938

2030

2038

1910

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

3050

Sri Lanka

7289

7060

6283

4050

5

Due to higher level of consumption, productivity is on rise in Egypt, China, Srilanka

Sri Lanka Yield

8050

2 4

China Yield

7347

5044

3475

2050

Country

2098

2103

2003

2004

2003 Kg/ha

2004 Kg/ha

Increase in Yield Kg/ha

Egypt

7209

7347

138

China

4745

5044

299

Srilanka

3219

3475

256

India

2098

2103

5

IFFCO’s Efforts to Increase Agricultural Productivity • Soil testing – 5 Mobile soil testing vans with a annual capacity to analyze 30000 soil samples free of cost – Free Soil testing facility at Phulpur and Kalol • Production of bio-fertilizers at CORDET Phulpur and Kalol Producing : - Rhizobium, Azotobactor, Azospirillium, PSB as an integral part of integrated nutrient management • Proposal to set-up a bio-fertilizer plant is in pipeline • Provided KIOSKS to cooperatives to disseminate information related to agriculture in 10 Indian languages

IFFCO’s Efforts to Increase Agricultural Productivity • Organizing various promotional and educational programmes for the benefit of cooperatives and farmers to increase productivity of crops • Linkages with State Agriculture Research Universities / Research Institutions - Through 17 IFFCO chairs in the disciplines of: – Agronomy, – Soil Science, – Extension and Cooperation, – Agro Economics and Fertilizer Technology • Various Cooperative development and Welfare Programmes:

Thank You Dr. U.S Awasthi Managing Director Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd. IFFCO Sadan, C-1 District Centre, Saket New Delhi-110017 INDIA e-mail: [email protected]