India will be self-reliant in production of fertilizers by 2023: Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda

File Photo: Twitter@DVSadanandGowda

New Delhi: Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers DV Sadananda Gowda on Sunday (September 13, 2020) said that India will be self-reliant in the production of fertilizers by 2023 as under “Atma Nirbhar  Bharat” programme, new fertilizer manufacturing units are being set up with an investment of Rs 40,000 crore across the country to reduce dependency on import.

Gowda was addressing a webinar on “Self-Reliant India and Sustainable Agriculture” organized by IFFCO for the farmers of Karnataka. 

He said, “As per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat vision to promote indigenous industries, we are converting all fertilizer companies to gas-based technology. Recently we have revived four urea plants (Ramagundam, Sindhri, Barauni and Gorakhpur) in India. By 2023 we should become self –sufficient in the production of fertilizers."

ರೈತರು ಮಣ್ಣಿನ ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಕಾರ್ಡ್ ಅನ್ನು ಸಮರ್ಥವಾಗಿ ಉಪಯೋಗಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು : ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ರೈತರು ಮತ್ತು ಸಹಕಾರಿಗಳನ್ನು ಉದ್ದೇಶಿಸಿ ಇಂದು ವೆಬಿನಾರ್ ನಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದ ಸಚಿವ @DVSadanandGowda

ವಿವರ: https://t.co/vhLY8AXeoT pic.twitter.com/qXpVpbpTFs — PIB in Karnataka (@PIBBengaluru) September 12, 2020

Union Minister informed that the Government is encouraging the production of organic and Nano fertilizers in the country as they are 25 to 30 per cent cheaper and give 18 to 35 per cent higher yield and keep the soil in good health. 

He lauded the IFFCO’s Nano experiment and called it a game-changer and praised the efforts of IFFCO during the COVID-19 pandemic period for not only keeping a regular supply of fertilizers but also organising campaigns by distributing masks, sanitizers and hand gloves to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. 

He also informed that Nano fertilizers distributed freely to 12,000 farmers and agriculture universities across the country have given positive feedback.

Gowda asked farmers to use Urea judiciously as excessive use of Urea may spoil the soil health. He advised farmers to use fertilizers according to their soil health cards.

He also thanked other fertilizers companies and Railway department for playing an important role in the timely supply of fertilizer during the COVID pandemic period.

More than 1500 farmers from Karnataka took part in the Webinar through zoom. 

Managing Director IFFCO, US Awasthi, Marketing Director Yogendra Kumar, IFFCO Karnataka marketing manager Narayanaswamy, agriculture scientists from University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and other eminent dignitaries also participated in the Webinar.