India to stop importing urea by 2025 end

New Delhi: India will by the end of 2025 stop importing urea as a massive push for domestic manufacturing has helped bridge the gap between supply and demand, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has said.

In an interaction, the minister noted that the availability of fertilisers is very important for Indian agriculture. He said the country has been using chemical fertilisers for the last 60-65 years to enhance crop production. Now, Mandaviya said, the government is making efforts to promote alternate fertilisers like nano liquid urea and nano liquid di-ammonium phosphate (DAP). "Use of alternate fertilisers is good for crops and soil health.

We are promoting it," he said. Asked about achieving self-sufficiency in urea production,Mandaviya said the Modi government has adopted a two-pronged strategy to end dependency on urea imports. The minister highlighted that the government has revived four closed urea plants and is reviving one another factory. He noted that India needs around 350 lakh tonnes of urea annually to meet domestic demand. Mandaviya said the installed domestic production capacities have been increased to around 310 lakh tonne from 225 lakh tonne in 2014-15.