Dynamics of fertilizer consumption and its marketing: a comparative study in two states of south India

Abstract

More than half of India's population relies on agriculture for survival. According to the Economic Survey 2020-21, agriculture and related industries contributed 17.8 per cent of the country's Gross Value Added (GVA) at current prices in 2019-20, The country's most challenging problem currently is maintaining a balance between population boom and agricultural production. The fertilizer industry in India has been under strict governmental control for most of the period since independence. The Government of India declared fertilizer as an essential commodity and notified the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) in 1957. Major controls on prices and distribution of fertilizers were introduced in 1973 under the Fertilizer Movement Control Order. The Retention Price cum Subsidy Scheme (RPS) was introduced in 1977 for encouraging investment in the fertilizer sector. The economic reforms of 1991 paved way for many policy changes and it also resulted in the formation of several committees. Price of fertilizers were deregulated and new schemes like New Pricing Scheme (NPS) and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) were introduced. The growth trend in the chemical fertilizer production and consumption was studied. The results showed that in the year 1950-51, the all-India consumption of N, P2O5, K2O fertilizers was 55.0, 8.8 and 6.0 (‘000 tonnes) respectively. In the 1990s, the total fertilizer consumption varied between 12.15 and 16.8 million tonnes. In 2007-08, the total consumption outreach was 22.5 million tonnes. The total estimated nutrient consumption for 2019-20 (N+P2O5+K2O) was 29.04 million metric tonnes. Fertilizer production in India has increased at a rapid rate i.e., 38.7 thousand tonnes in 1951-52 to about 17.9 million tonnes in 2015-16. Fertilizer production increased modestly by 3.3 per cent to 18.5 million tonnes (N+P2O5) in 2019-20. The production of fertilizers accompanied by the imports in the country have resulted in high fertilizer use by the farmers. The gap between the domestic consumption and production was also studied and the results indicated a deficit (1.31) in the total production and consumption. Forecasting for the next 6 years from 2020-21 to 2025- 26 was also carried out and it showed an increasing trend in both consumption and production for all the major chemical fertilizers. A comparative analysis of fertilizers usage and its marketing in Kerala and Telangana was also studied. Two districts with the highest area under paddy was purposively selected. Two panchayats from each block were randomly selected. The sample included 120 farmers and 20 traders. Second order polynomial regression was carried out to analyse the effect of consumption of N, P and K on the yield. Fisher’s t test was also performed to know whether there is any significant difference between the consumption of N, P, K and yield in the two study areas. It was found that consumption of N and P fertilizers were different in the two states. Yield was found to be higher in Telangana. The consumption of K fertilizers was more or less equal. A significant value of Kendall’s coefficient of concordance showed that there existed strong agreement among the respondents to rank the various brands of fertilizers. It was found that IFFCO fertilizers was preferred in Telangana and in Kerala it was FACT. The marketing system of fertilizers in India is based on the Direct Benefit Transfer system. All subsidised fertilizers are sold to farmers/buyers through Point of Sale (PoS) devices installed in each retailer shop. Dealers must sell fertilizers through PoS devices under the Aadhaar enabled Fertilizers Distribution System (AeFDS). The web-based Integrated Fertilizer Management System keeps track of fertilizer sales (iFMS). The marketing channels in the two states were studied and it revealed that fertilizers in Kerala are mostly distributed to the farmers via the co-operative banks (PACS) to Padashekara samithis. The farmers in Telangana mostly purchased fertilizers from retail shops. There also exists another channel wherein the TS MARKFED supplies fertilizers to various institutes through which farmers avail fertilizers. The fertilizer industry in India is dominated by the co-operative and private companies. IFFCO is one of the largest fertilizer co-operatives as well as producers of fertilizers in India. SWOC analysis of IFFCO showed that the cooperative nature and new venture and businesses of IFFCO are few of its major strengths. Rigid organizational sector and slow feedback are some of its weaknesses. Opportunities include increasing the installation capacity and energy efficient plants. High competition from other private and public companies and government regulations are the major challenges. Chemical fertilizers have made a substantial contribution to India's food grain self-sufficiency. Only by studying individual farm usage can a clearer picture of the country's fertilizer consumption pattern be identified. In order to increase agricultural growth and encourage balanced nutrient application, fertilizers must be made available to farmers at reasonable prices which in turn lead to enhancement of agricultural productivity.