Latest news with #FertilizerControlOrder
News18
4 days ago
- Business
- News18
Fertiliser body IMMA seeks centralised licensing for micronutrient products
New Delhi, Aug 4 (PTI) Indian Micro Fertilisers Manufacturers Association (IMMA) on Monday called for centralised licensing and national guidelines to accelerate nationwide marketing of micronutrient fertilisers. While the overall regulatory framework falls under the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) of the Essential Commodities Act at the central level, manufacturers must obtain licences and certificates from agricultural or fertiliser control authorities in each state where they plan to sell or produce. The multi-state approval requirement is cumbersome and time-consuming as each state has its own licensing process and timelines, according to IMMA President Rahul Mirchandani. 'There is a need to unify and simplify this approval procedure to reduce delays and administrative burden, allowing for faster nationwide marketing of micronutrient fertilisers," Mirchandani told PTI. Micronutrient fertilisers address deficits of key nutrients such as zinc, boron and iron in agricultural crops. 'Obsolete state notified grades hinder innovation in the micronutrient fertiliser sector. It is time to shift from static formulations to dynamic frameworks," Mirchandani said. 'A centralised licensing and analytical validation is the need of the hour." IMMA proposes a single digital licensing portal where companies can upload formulations and label claims, submit analytical methods for each product and receive time-bound approvals. The system would ensure companies are responsible for label claims and performance, traceability of ingredients and batch data, while giving farmers access to relevant and updated solutions. State-notified grades for micronutrients have become outdated, with the most recent notifications in many cases dating back over a decade and in some states over two to three decades, Mirchandani said. IMMA suggested broad national guidelines similar to water-soluble fertiliser regulations that specify minimum and maximum permissible limits for each nutrient across micronutrient blends. Within these limits, manufacturers should be allowed to design formulations aligned to regional soil health reports, weather trends, cropping systems and emerging nutrient deficiencies. IMMA also said there is no need to regulate micronutrient fertilisers under the Essential Commodities Act as there is no food shortage and these products are not government-subsidised. The association called for sector reforms with faster approval of innovative micronutrient grades developed to address climate change challenges. PTI LUX HVA view comments First Published: August 04, 2025, 15:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
30-07-2025
- The Hindu
Chittoor Collector cautions dealers and farmers against hoarding urea stocks
Chittoor District Collector Sumit Kumar on Wednesday cautioned that criminal proceedings would be initiated against those found violating the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985. Speaking to the media here, the Collector warned dealers hoarding or selling urea at inflated prices, and cautioned the farmers to desist from storing more than the permissible quantity. Any violation would result in penalties, he added. It was observed that farmers were rushing to private fertilizer shops and Rythu Seva Kendras following speculations that urea shortage had set in due to deficit rainfall and prolonged dry weather in June. He clarified that only one bag of urea could be procured by each farmer for the current Kharif crops. Referring to statistics from the last three years, the Collector said that discrepancies between crop extent and fertilizer sales were detected. In Kharif 2025, the Agriculture Department registered crop coverage on 8,142 hectares, with a sale of 7,910 metric tonnes (MT) of urea already over. In 2023 and 2024, 8,386 MT and 9,599 MT respectively were supplied. Horticulture lands generally need complex fertilizers rather than high doses of urea. Overuse of urea in mulberry cultivation would adversely impact the crop, he informed. The Collector instructed the agriculture officials to strictly sell the urea to genuine farmers who have sown crops. The officials should verify the identity of the farmers along with the details of the crops.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How does nano urea fertilizer benefit farmers? IFFCO's Yogendra Kumar explains
IFFCO Nano Urea serves as an innovative agricultural input utilising nanotechnology to deliver nitrogen to plants. (AI image) Nano urea is being seen as a revolutionary invention in agriculture. From its price to the method of use and potential to increase incomes of farmers, nano urea is an important solution in the agriculture sector . According to Yogendra Kumar, Marketing Director at IFFCO, using the nano urea fertilizer will help increase the soil yield. This is because lesser amount of fertilizer will be required. Yogendra Kumar also said that nano urea fertilizer nourishes the crop to make it healthy. Nano Urea Plus (Liquid) is an enhanced version of Nano Urea, featuring a higher nitrogen concentration (20% N w/v equivalent to 16% N w/w). This formulation incorporates various nitrogen forms (Urea-Amide, Ammoniacal, Aminos etc.) and includes bio-polymers and additional excipients in its composition. Incidentally, IFFCO Nano Urea (Liquid) is the world's first nanofertilizer which has been notified by Fertilizer Control Order (FCO, 1985), Government of India. "The crops are healthier and the chances of pest infestation are greatly reduced. Additionally, even if there is a case of pest infestation, the treatment required would be minor." He also says that nano urea is a cost-effective and environment friendly option for farmers. Yogendra Kumar added that healthier crops with higher strength in holding on to the soil due to use of nano urea are able to bear natural disturbances like higher wind speeds better. IFFCO Nano Urea serves as an innovative agricultural input utilising nanotechnology to deliver nitrogen to plants. It represents a sustainable alternative for farmers, promoting efficient agriculture whilst addressing climate change concerns. Its effectiveness as a fertilizer stems from its optimal particle dimensions of 20-50 nm, enhanced surface area (10,000 times greater than a 1mm urea pill) and increased particle count (55,000 nitrogen particles compared to a 1mm urea pill). The enhanced properties of nano urea result in superior crop absorption, with over 80% availability, leading to improved nutrient utilisation efficiency. Top benefits of Nano Urea Better quality food Reduction in chemical fertilizer usage Environment friendly Higher crop yields Easy to store and transport Increased income for farmers Nano urea serves as a crucial element in 4 R nutrient stewardship, advancing both precision farming and sustainable agricultural practices. Its manufacturing process exemplifies clean and environmentally friendly technology, requiring minimal energy and resource consumption during industrial production. Furthermore, Nano urea significantly reduces the environmental impact by decreasing nutrient losses from agricultural lands through leaching and gaseous emissions, which previously contributed to environmental degradation and climate change effects. Nano Urea Plus demonstrates considerable energy efficiency and produces fewer carbon dioxide emissions compared to alternative products. Additionally, the application of Nano Urea Plus (Liquid) enables farmers to decrease their usage of conventional top-Dressed Urea (Granular/Prill) by as much as 50%. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Farmer drags agri dept to HC for contempt
Chennai: A farmer moved the Madras high court seeking contempt of court action against the state agriculture department for proceeding with a tender for the procurement of bio-stimulant (bio-fertilizer) in violation of a court order. Despite the undertaking given before the first bench of the court not to finalize a tender for supply of organic liquid input bio-stimulant, for which no testing methodology was specified by the central govt in the Fertilizer Control Order, the department issued a work order for 21 crore, P Jothibasu alleged. When the plea came up for hearing, the department submitted that the tender, which was the subject matter of the petition, was scrapped and a fresh tender was issued; therefore, there cannot be contempt. Opposing this, counsel for the petitioner, M Purushothaman, submitted that the tender number, product, and quantity is the same. Therefore, to circumvent the undertaking given to this court, mischief has been played. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai The first bench of Chief Justice K R Shriram and Justice Mohammed Shaffiq said the allegation of the petitioner cannot be stated to be unjustified. The court admitted the contempt petition and directed the department to respond by June 12. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading gold CFDs with one of the lowest spreads? IC Markets Learn More Undo According to the petitioner, the tender was floated to procure a product simply described as organic input (liquid organic fertilizer bio-stimulant). The tender is called for procurement without product description as required under the order, its tolerance limit, and methodology of testing, he added. tnn
