In India, the central government has started looking into the problem of the country’s fertilizer industry which is suffering from “ad hoc” measures introduced by the previous government. The initiative “Make in India” is meant to fix these problems, re-boost the vitality of the sector and mainly decrease imports, on which India is to a large extent dependent. The production of urea and phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilizers had been interrupted by more than four firms and the shortfall caused by the lack of production has been covered by imports.
“Despite fertilizer being a core sector, the previous regime cut off gas supply to non-urea manufacturer Deepak Fertilizers, which has shut down its three lakh-tonne capacity since May. Two others – Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers and Gujarat State Fertilizers Corporation may – go the same way if the gas supply is stopped to them on some ground,” said fertilizer industry officials. Among other companies suffering from the misplaced measures of the previous cabinet are Madras Fertilizers, Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore, Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers and Southern Petrochemicals Corporation, all major manufacturers of urea and other complex fertilizers.
The major industry players are now trying to get aid and relief under the “Make in India” initiative to make sure that the country will be able to become self-reliant. Currently, the suspension of fertilizer production has led to a loss of 15 lakh tonnes of fertilizers, which made the country turn to international firms which can have a negative impact on the government. Some in the Indian fertilizer sector think that the country should utilize its own capacity, which it already has, to achieve food security and even export to other countries.
