Key facts
- India is seeing increased demand for biofertilisers due to concerns over chemical fertiliser supply.
- The Middle East conflict has impacted shipping routes, exacerbating fears about fertiliser availability.
- India uses approximately 63 million tonnes of chemical fertilisers annually.
- The domestic biofertiliser market is valued at $150 million and growing at 10% per year.
- A women-led initiative in Uttar Pradesh is producing biofertiliser to support small farmers and soil health.
- Biofertilisers are considered eco-friendly supplements that can reduce reliance on chemical inputs.
In Tappal, India, women are producing biofertiliser from local materials like cow dung, sugar, and flour, a growing initiative driven by anxieties over the supply of chemical fertilisers. This effort comes as India, a major consumer of chemical fertilisers, faces potential disruptions due to the Middle East conflict straining shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
The demand for organic blends has surged as farmers prepare for the monsoon planting season, with particular concern over the availability of diammonium phosphate (DAP). While biofertilisers are currently a niche product, their adoption is being encouraged by supply uncertainties, government promotion of sustainable agriculture, and increasing awareness of soil degradation.
The domestic biofertiliser market, valued at approximately $150 million, is expanding at about 10 percent annually. Kamlesh Devi, a managing director at Tappal Samriddhi Mahila Kisan Limited, explained that the Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) aims to benefit small farmers and improve soil health. The FPO, part of a government program, comprises 1,050 women members across 92 villages and is designated as a model for replication.
These women prepare biofertilisers using traditional knowledge and expert support. Unlike chemical fertilisers, biofertilisers contain live microorganisms that enhance nutrient availability in the soil. For many women in Tappal, this enterprise offers empowerment, allowing them to participate in farming decisions.
Despite government assurances of adequate stock, farmers like Kishan Prasad are stockpiling urea due to rumours of potential shortages of DAP and urea. The Tappal biofertiliser is priced at 300 rupees for a 40kg bag, making it a cost-effective alternative, though not a direct replacement for chemical fertilisers. Farmer Neetu reported reducing urea application by one-third without impacting yields.
Experts like Brijesh Mishra from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute caution that biofertilisers are supplements and cannot fully meet India's agricultural needs. Challenges to wider adoption include the gradual nature of benefits and the need for crop-specific combinations. However, biofertilisers contribute to soil health by increasing organic carbon and can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with chemical fertiliser production and transport, as highlighted in a recent UN report.