Himachal registers 10% dip in use of chemical fertilisers

Tribune News Service

Subhash Rajta

Shimla, January 28

The consumption of major chemical fertilisers in the state has shown a decrease of around 10 per cent over the last two financial years (2021-22, 2022-23) as compared to 2020-21. The demand for pesticides, too, has remained stable over the past few years even though the land under fruit and vegetable cultivation has been increasing.

The consumption of major fertilisers (urea, NPK 12:32:16, NPK 15:15:15, SSP, MOP, DAP, etc) has come down to around 1.20 lakh tonnes in the last two financial years from 1.34 lakh tonnes in 2020-21. “The consumption has definitely reduced a little in the last two years, but we will need to wait for a few more years before reaching any conclusion,” said Gaurav Sharma, an official from the Department of Agriculture.

The official said sometimes factors like the availability of fertilisers at a given time and weather also influence the consumption of fertilisers. “If the cost of the fertilisers rise, the farmers tend to use lesser quantity. And if the weather remains dry, like it is at the moment, farmers and growers do not use the fertilisers,” he said. “Besides, many farmers are shifting to organic and bio-fertilisers.”

The increasing footprint of natural farming in the state is also a factor behind the declining use of chemical fertilisers. Currently, around 1.8 lakh farmers in the state have devoted 30,000 hectares of land for natural farming.

Meanwhile, the demand for pesticides has remained stable for the past few years even as the land under fruit and vegetable cultivation has been increasing. “The overall demand for pesticides is around 3,000 tonnes and it hasn’t increased over the last five years,” said Kirti Sinha, Senior Plant Protection Officer, Department of Horticulture.

“The stability in demand for pesticides could be attributed to farmers shifting to organic and natural farming. Also, a wide range of new molecules is available now, which are more effective even in lesser quantities,” he said.

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