IFFCO's Nano Urea Fertilizer: Game-Changer for Sustainable Agriculture

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has informed that IFFCO and CIL (Coromandel International Ltd) have developed nano DAP or nano-urea and conducted preliminary field trials on selected crops in selected ICAR Institutes.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has informed that trials were conducted at 20 selected locations in selected crops to study the effect of IFFCO nano-urea (liquid) used as foliar spray. 

Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) has provisionally notified Nano Urea as Nano Nitrogen Fertilizers in Fertilizer Control Order, 1985.

The Government of India is not directly involved in setting up Nano Urea Plants. However, three Nano Urea plants at Kalol, Phulpur and Aonla with a capacity of 17 crore bottles have been set up by IFFCO.

About Nanofertilizers 

• Nanofertilizers are nutrients that are encapsulated or coated within nanomaterial (size 10-9 meter) in order to enable controlled release, and its subsequent slow diffusion into the soil.

• The use of nanoscale fertilizers may help to minimise nutrient loss by leaching/run-off and reduce its fast degradation and volatility, thus enhancing the nutrient quality and the fertility of the soil, and promoting crop productivity in the long run. 

• Moreover, because of the high surface area to volume ratio, and the high penetration ability of nanofertilizers, they may be a suitable alternative to chemical fertilizers. 

• In addition, the use of nanofertilizers, or “nano-biofertilizers' ', can reduce the environmental hazard to a large extent. 

• Nanofertilizers may boost the crop yield by stimulating seed germination, nitrogen metabolism, photosynthesis, protein and carbohydrate synthesis, and stress tolerance.

About IFFCO

• IFFCO is the acronym for Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited, It is a multi-state cooperative society that is involved in the manufacturing and marketing of fertilizers at a large scale.

• It was founded in 1967 with 57 members and has now become one of the biggest co-op and the largest fertiliser manufacturer.