Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech on Thursday (2 February) announced that the central government will expand application of nano DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) to all agro-climatic zones.

“After the successful adoption of nano urea, application of nano-DAP on various crops will be expanded in all agro-climatic zones,” she said in her pre-election budget, which is technically a vote-on-account or interim budget.

In June 2021, fertiliser cooperative Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), launched nano urea in liquid form as an alternative to conventional urea.

Subsequently in April 2023, IFFCO launched liquid nano di-ammonia phosphate (DAP), the first in the world.

Nano DAP (liquid) has a reduced impact on soil and consumer health. It is a cheaper alternative to regular chemical fertilisers and also incurs lower logistics costs. Besides reducing input costs, it also results in higher yields.

Both liquid nano urea and DAP are highly effective compared to granular urea and DAP, and they not only improve the fertility of the land, but are also beneficial for the health of the consumer.

Agriculture assumes a pivotal role in propelling the Indian economy forward. It serves as a cornerstone, contributing to 16 per cent of the nation’s gross domestic product.

The agriculture and allied sectors collectively account for nearly 18.8 per cent of the gross value added in the fiscal year 2022.

According to an ICAR report, India has huge tracts of agronomic land that are broadly divided into 15 agro-climatic zones with diverse soil types, weather patterns, and crop-growing potential.