As India prepares for the Kharif 2026 season, ensuring adequate fertiliser availability remains central to sustaining crop production and farmer incomes. While domestic fertiliser production has strengthened and imports have diversified, evolving global dynamics — particularly supply chain pressures linked to geopolitical developments in West Asia — highlight the value of complementary solutions, such as natural farming, to improve nutrient efficiency and soil health.
India is one of the world’s largest consumers of fertiliser. Despite an annual domestic urea production of around 30–31 million tonnes, imports continue to play an important role, especially during peak demand periods. Recent data show that urea imports have risen sharply, with significant consignments arriving from China and Russia. At the same time, the country remains import‑dependent for phosphatic (DAP) and potassic (MOP) fertilisers, with MOP largely sourced from overseas markets. These shipments often traverse strategic sea lanes such as the Strait of Hormuz, making supply chains sensitive to maritime disruptions.
In the current fiscal year, India’s fertiliser import bill is projected at a record level, driven by sustained demand and elevated global prices. This underlines the ongoing importance of effective subsidy management. Fertiliser subsidies remain one of the largest agricultural expenditure items in the Union budget, particularly for urea, which is sold to farmers at subsidised rates to support affordability and production.
Effective complement
To promote balanced nutrient use and reduce excessive reliance on chemical fertilisers, the Government of India approved the PM‑PRANAM scheme, which encourages states to lower chemical fertiliser consumption by sharing 50 per cent of the subsidy savings with them for soil health, bio‑input development, and related interventions. This policy framework provides a strong incentive for states and farmers to adopt practices that optimise nutrient use without compromising yields.
In this context, natural farming practices — including those inspired by the principles of zero-budget natural farming — offer an effective complement to mainstream nutrient management. Natural farming emphasises on‑farm nutrient recycling, organic amendments, biological processes, mulching and legume intercropping. Evidence from field experience across Indian states shows that, when applied appropriately to rainfed and low‑input systems, yields under Natural Farming can be sustained at levels comparable to those with conventional fertiliser use, while reducing input costs and improving soil structure.
While natural farming may not entirely replace synthetic nitrogen in intensive irrigated systems, targeted adoption on suitable acreage can meaningfully lower urea demand and reduce fiscal outgo. For example, if even 10–30 per cent of cultivable land in Maharashtra transitions to natural farming, urea demand in the state could decline substantially, resulting in meaningful subsidy savings. These savings can be reinvested to strengthen extension services, expand bio‑fertiliser availability, and build farmer capacity.
Encouraging early adopters
Operationalising this transition ahead of Kharif 2026 calls for coordinated action. In the April–June window, agricultural departments should prioritise farmer training through Krishi Vigyan Kendras and field schools, expand delivery of quality organic inputs and bio‑fertilisers, and enhance soil testing and advisory networks. Incentive mechanisms — including performance‑linked grants under PM‑PRANAM and crop insurance support — can encourage early adopters and reduce risk perceptions.
India’s fertiliser landscape will continue to balance domestic production with strategic imports. However, combining strong supply management with sustainable nutrient practices enhances resilience against external shocks. Natural farming, when integrated with government policy and extension support, strengthens agricultural sustainability while conserving public resources, making it a prudent strategy for a productive and resilient Kharif 2026.
(The writer is adviser, Viksit Maharashtra, Chief Minister Office, Maharashtra)
Published on April 5, 2026