Urea Bag Changes to Significantly Increase Farmers' Financial Burden
In a concerning development for India's agricultural sector, the recent reduction in both the weight and nutrient content of urea bags is poised to substantially increase the financial burden on farmers across the country. This warning comes from a retired agricultural scientist who has analyzed the implications of these policy changes.
Substantial Changes to Urea Specifications
Professor Virendra Singh Lathar, former principal scientist at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, revealed that the central government, acting under orders from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, has implemented significant changes to urea specifications. Effective from January 23, the weight of urea bags has been reduced from 50 kilograms to 40 kilograms.
Alongside this weight reduction, the nitrogen content has been lowered from 46 percent to 37 percent, while 17 percent sulphur has been added to the formulation. These changes represent a fundamental shift in the composition of one of India's most widely used fertilizers.
Financial Impact on Farmers
Explaining the practical implications of these changes, Professor Lathar detailed how the nutrient reduction translates to increased costs for farmers. Previously, each 50-kilogram bag of urea contained approximately 23 kilograms of nitrogen. With the new specifications, this has decreased to nearly 15 kilograms per bag.
"This effectively means that farmers will have to pay around 37 percent more per kilogram of nitrogen than before," Professor Lathar emphasized. At the current price of Rs 270 per bag, the cost of nitrogen application has increased dramatically from approximately Rs 1,755 per hectare to about Rs 2,835 per hectare.
India's Urea Consumption Patterns
The professor provided context about India's agricultural landscape, noting that the country has nearly 16 million hectares of cultivable land with annual urea consumption exceeding 40 million metric tonnes. This averages around 2.5 tonnes per hectare, which is significantly higher than agricultural institutions typically recommend.
About 65 percent of the country's rain-fed farmland is dedicated to pulses, oilseeds, and horticultural crops, where urea consumption remains below one tonne per hectare annually. The remaining approximately 6 million hectares of irrigated land supports high-yield crops including wheat, rice, and sugarcane.
Recommended vs. Actual Urea Requirements
According to established agricultural recommendations, the wheat-rice cropping cycle requires about 120 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare annually. This translates to nearly 260 kilograms of urea containing 46 percent nitrogen. Based on this requirement, India would need approximately 30 million metric tonnes of urea annually to meet agricultural needs.
However, Professor Lathar highlighted a significant discrepancy, alleging that "nearly one-third of the 40 million metric tonnes of subsidized urea — over 10 million tonnes — is illegally diverted for industrial use." This diversion represents a substantial loss of resources intended for agricultural purposes.
Government Subsidy and Policy Concerns
Referring to government expenditure on urea subsidies, Professor Lathar noted that Rs 1.32 lakh crore was allocated for this purpose in the Union Budget 2022-23. He expressed concern about the government's approach to managing this substantial financial commitment.
"Instead of plugging leakages and misuse, the government is trying to reduce the subsidy burden through impractical measures such as cutting the weight and nitrogen content of urea and promoting ineffective alternatives like nano urea," he stated. The retired scientist warned that such "technically confused policies pose a serious threat to farmers and agriculture" in India.
Potential Harm from Excessive Sulphur Addition
Professor Lathar also raised specific concerns about the addition of 17 percent sulphur in the new 40-kilogram urea bags. According to agricultural recommendations, oilseed crops require 12-15 kilograms of sulphur per acre, while cereals, pulses, and vegetables need only 8-10 kilograms per acre.
He explained that to meet the annual nitrogen requirement of 120 kilograms per acre in the wheat-paddy cycle, farmers will now need eight bags of 40-kilogram urea. "This will add more than 55 kilograms of sulphur per acre to the soil, which is excessive and potentially harmful," he warned.
Long-Term Agricultural Consequences
The professor detailed the potential negative impacts of excessive sulphur application, noting that it increases the risk of crop burning, stunted plant growth, and reduced yields. In the long term, higher sulphate accumulation could lead to increased soil salinity, adversely affecting sensitive crops.
This development poses a serious challenge to sustainable agriculture in India, potentially compromising soil health and agricultural productivity for years to come. The combination of increased costs for farmers and potential harm to soil quality represents a dual threat to India's agricultural sector that requires careful consideration and policy adjustment.
