On April 15, 2026, in New Delhi, the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) hosted a Brainstorming session (BSS) to create a roadmap for achieving self-reliance in fertilizers. Representatives from various Government departments, Academia, Fertilizer Industry, and Farmers participated and stressed the importance of self-reliance in this sector.
Following the session, Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary of Department of Agriculture Research and Education under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and DG, Indian Council of Agriculture Research, along with President of NAAS, addressed a press conference. They shared that India aims to achieve Atmanirbhar Bharat by 2047, with the agriculture sector playing a crucial role. While fertilizers were beneficial during the Green Revolution, the challenge now lies in declining fertilizer use efficiency and their indiscriminate application.
Dr. Jat highlighted the need to reduce import dependency, as India currently consumes around 33 million tonnes of fertilizers annually. He emphasized the importance of initiatives like Soil Health, balanced fertilizer application, and raising awareness among farmers. Leveraging modern technologies such as precision nutrient management and promoting crop diversification and recycling organic waste were also discussed.
The participants suggested adopting a multi-pronged strategy with short, medium, and long-term research and development goals, focusing on developing smart alternate fertilizers, utilizing indigenous minerals, and enhancing fertilizer research. Suggestions were made to launch a Mission Mode Program for Integrated Nutrient Supply and Management (INSAM) to replace mineral fertilizers with organic manures.
A paradigm shift in fertilizer policies was recommended, including nutrient-based subsidy for urea and linking subsidies with soil health card. The focus should be on efficient use of fertilizers to prevent overuse of cheap urea and deficiencies in other fertilizers. The history of the Green Revolution in India’s agriculture sector was discussed, highlighting the significant role fertilizers played in boosting food grain production. The sector’s heavy import dependency for phosphorus and potassium was also acknowledged.
Efforts to align policies and research towards self-reliance in the wake of recent global developments concerning fertilizer supply chain issues were emphasized. The article also briefly mentions the appointment of Luke Kissam as CEO of Corteva’s future crop protection company.
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