Soil fertility is deteriorating due to excessive use of fertilizers. If monitoring is lacking, crop lands may become polluted. Agricultural chemicals pose a major threat to the future of coming generations. The Agriculture Department is suggesting alternative methods to chemical fertilizers.

At a time when Kharif crop cultivation is gaining momentum in the state, the delay in receiving urea from the central government has led to scenes of farmers queuing across the state. Currently, whenever two farmers meet, the discussion revolves around the availability of urea. Against this backdrop, public attention is shifting toward the use of chemical fertilizers in crop lands, said Raj Kumar, State President of the United Forum of Telangana Agriculture Extension Officers. On this occasion, he spoke with Chaithanya galam about the changes that need to be introduced in fertilizer usage across Telangana.

🔍 Regulation in Fertilizer Usage is Essential

✅ According to the 2021–22 report released by the Fertilizer Association of India, states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana form the South Zone. Among them, Telangana ranks first in fertilizer usage per hectare at 283.4 kg, followed by Andhra Pradesh (233.2 kg) and Tamil Nadu (190.1 kg). However, the national average for the same year stood at just 146.7 kg per hectare, making Telangana’s usage significantly higher and a matter of concern.

✅ In response, the state government and the agriculture department quickly took action, conducting awareness programs at the grassroots level. As a result, by 2023–24, Telangana’s average fertilizer usage per hectare was successfully reduced to 220 kg. Yet, this figure remains notably higher than the national average and warrants attention.

✅ Excessive use of chemical fertilizers not only pollutes the soil but also threatens water sources through the process of eutrophication.
✅ If usage continues to exceed limits, even fertile lands may turn barren in the future due to soil contamination.

🌿 Increasing the Use of Eco-Friendly Fertilizers

✅ Fertilizer efficiency generally varies depending on the soil type. For example, in the case of urea, its efficiency ranges from just 20% to 50%, based on soil type. This means about 50% of the nitrogen applied through urea is wasted, contributing to pollution.

✅ To address this issue, various companies are introducing fertilizers developed with advanced technology — including fortified fertilizers, those based on nano technology, and neem-coated urea. These new-generation fertilizers have higher utilization efficiency and are environmentally safe. Hence, the state’s Agriculture Department is promoting these through farmer awareness programs.

✅ Similarly, promotion of organic fertilizers is underway to reduce farmer dependency on chemical fertilizers.

✅ To avoid artificial shortages caused by brand marketing by various companies, the central government launched the “One Nation One Fertilizer” policy in 2022. As part of this initiative, all companies across the country are now required to sell fertilizers under the unified brand name “Bharat Fertilizer.”

📉 Decline in Fertilizer Consumption — A Positive Sign

Driven by the goal of significantly reducing chemical fertilizer usage, the central and state governments have been implementing joint programs under the Agriculture Department. These efforts have resulted in positive outcomes:

• The national average fertilizer usage decreased from 160.1 kg per hectare in 2020–21 to 146.7 kg in 2021–22, and further down to 139.81 kg by 2023–24.
• In Telangana, fertilizer usage dropped from 283.4 kg in 2021–22 to 220 kg in 2023–24, showcasing the success of government efforts to curb chemical fertilizer consumption.

Raj Kumar Badavat
State President
Telangana AEOs’ United Forum