Nano Fertiliser

• 27 Jun 2025

Source: FE 

Why in News? 

Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) is setting up its first overseas nano fertiliser plant in Brazil through a joint venture, following successful exports to over 40 countries, including the US, Brazil, and Nepal. 

• It will be located in Curitiba (Parana, Brazil) with an annual production capacity of 4.5 million litres. 

Note 

• Brazil, a major producer of corn, soybean, sugarcane, and coffee, has seen a 20% cut in urea and DAP usage, a 10% yield increase in corn and soybean, and a 7% rise in sugarcane output with the use of Indian nano fertilisers.  
  • As a result, Brazilian farmers are increasingly interested in boosting productivity while reducing fertilizer use.  

What is Nano Fertiliser? 

• About: Fertilisers coated with nanomaterials (particles ranging from 1 to 100 nanometres) are known as nanofertilisers.  
  • These nanomaterials enable the controlled release of nutrients, improving their availability to plants over a longer period. 
• Nanomaterial Components: 
  • Inorganic Materials: Metal Oxides (e.g., Zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO2)), Silica Nanoparticles and Hydroxyapatite Nanohybrids. 
  • Organic Materials: Chitosan (natural biopolymer derived from chitin found in crustacean exoskeletons), Carbon-based Nanomaterials (e.g., carbon nanotubes (CNTs), fullerenes, and fullerols). 
• Types of Nanofertilizers:  
  • Nanoscale Coating Fertilisers: It uses nanoparticle coatings for controlled nutrient release. 
  • Nanoscale Additive Fertilisers: It binds nutrients to nano-sized adsorbents for gradual availability. 
  • Nanoporous Materials: It enables slow nutrient release, enhancing plant absorption. 
• Nano Fertiliser Adoption in India: Nano Urea (2021) and Nano DAP (2023) are witnessing steady adoption, with FY25 sales reaching 26.5 million bottles of Nano Urea Plus and 9.7 million bottles of Nano DAP. 
  • IFFCO also plans to launch Nano Zinc and Nano Copper. 
• Need of Nano Fertilisers in India: India’s heavy subsidies on conventional fertilisers (from 0.6% in FY14 to 0.9% in FY23 % of GDP), have led to a Rs 1.67 trillion subsidy burden in 2025–26, straining public finances. 
  • Nano fertilisers offer a sustainable solution by reducing import dependency (e.g., DAP) and delivering nutrients more efficiently—500 ml Nano Urea equals 45 kg conventional urea—boosting efficiency. 
• Challenges with Nano Fertiliser Adoption:  
  • Limited Farmer Awareness: Skepticism and resistance from farmers used to traditional methods hinder adoption of nano fertilisers. 
  • Inconsistent Results: A Department of Fertilizers audit reported 25–50% variation in nitrogen savings, raising scientific skepticism about nano urea's quality and effectiveness. 
  • Food Chain Risks: Nanoparticles may bioaccumulate in plants, posing risks to the food chain, human health, and the environment.  

Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) 

• IFFCO, established in 1967 and headquartered in New Delhi, is one of the largest cooperatives in the world. It began with just 57 member cooperatives and has grown into a network of over 36,000 Indian cooperatives, serving more than 50 million farmers.  
• Wholly owned by Indian cooperatives, IFFCO operates five fertiliser plants and over 20 state offices across India. 
  • It has also expanded globally through joint ventures such as JIFCO (Jordan), KIT (Dubai), OMIFCO (Oman), and ICS (Senegal).  
• While its core focus remains on fertiliser production and marketing, IFFCO has also diversified into sectors like general insurance and rural telecommunications. 

 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) 

Q. With reference to chemical fertilizers in India, consider the following statements: (2020)

1. At present, the retail price of chemical fertilizers is market-driven and not administered by the Government. 
2. Ammonia, which is an input of urea, is produced from natural gas. 
3. Sulphur, which is a raw material for phosphoric acid fertilizer, is a by-product of oil refineries. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

(a) 1 only 

(b) 2 and 3 only 

(c) 2 only 

(d) 1, 2 and 3 

Ans: (b)