Cutting fertilizer subsidy

It is with reference to the news report ‘Govt plans Fertilizer Mission to cut imports, chemical use’ (January 26).

Fertilizers provide essential nutrients for plants. Every year the Centre spends crores to import chemical fertilizers.

Derived from natural sources such as animal manure, compost, green manure, plant residues enrich the soil with essential nutrients. The proposed Fertilizer Mission must aim to improve the sustainable alternatives to chemical fertilizers.

P Victor Selvaraj

Palayamkottai

This refers to “Govt plans Fertilizer Mission to cut imports, chemical use” (January 26). Promoting bio-fertilizers, organic inputs and other natural alternatives is important to make the proposed Mission on Fertilizers effective.

Direct subsidies to reduce farmers’ costs, along with tax benefits, research support for companies, and public-private partnerships, can strengthen the plan. In addition, digital tools can help farmers understand soil health and fertilizer needs. A proper monitoring system to track fertilizer use, soil quality and crop output will help meet goals. Field trials across regions and active farmer participation are essential to reduce imports and maintain agricultural productivity and food security.

S Balasubramaniyan

Villupuram (TN)

For ‘bumper’ certainty

Apropos the Editorial ‘Robust rabi’ (January 26), the reported 652 lakh hectares of rabi sowing is a welcome sign of agricultural recovery, fuelled by timely MSPs and strategic fertilizer management. Yet, record acreage is merely a promise, not a payout. While the prospect of cooling food inflation and a GDP boost is enticing, the IMD’s forecast of a dry winter and a fading La Niña serves as a sobering reality check.

True food security shouldn’t rely on the ‘luck’ of a munificent monsoon. We must pivot from celebrating sowing statistics to fortifying against climate volatility. As we enter the final leg, the real test isn’t the quantity of seeds in the ground, but our ability to mitigate heat stress and water scarcity. A bumper crop should be a policy-driven certainty, not a seasonal surprise.

K Chidanand Kumar

Bengaluru

Budget agenda

Apropos the article ‘Reformist, strategic focus likely in Budget’ (January 26), there is an urgent need to ramp up our investments in semiconductors and critical minerals in the upcoming Budget.

Compared with the US, Taiwan and China, India’s chip design and manufacturing is still at the nascent stage of fabricating chips in the range of 28nm to 110nm.

India needs to invest quickly in semiconductor research and development and should be able to transition to manufacturing smaller cutting-edge chips in the range of 5nm to 2nm.

Kosaraju Chandramouli

Hyderabad

Published on January 26, 2026