Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, along with Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Mansukh Mandaviya, inaugurated IFFCO's Nano DAP (Liquid) Plant in Kalol, Gandhinagar, Gujarat on October 24. The event was attended by several dignitaries, marking a significant milestone in the agricultural sector.
Speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration program, Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended his warm Dussehra greetings to the nation and emphasized the cultural significance of the day, highlighting its association with the victory of good over evil. He noted that Dussehra commemorates the day when Lord Shri Ram defeated Ravana and Mahishasura, while also celebrating the birth anniversary of the legendary freedom fighter, Captain Lakshmi Sehgal, who played a pivotal role in India's fight for independence alongside Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
Amit Shah underscored the importance of the occasion, stressing that the inauguration of IFFCO's Nano DAP (Liquid) plant in Kalol, Gandhinagar, is a momentous day for Western India, particularly Gujarat. He praised IFFCO for achieving a remarkable feat by leading India in the development of Nano Urea and Nano DAP. He highlighted India's unique position as an agricultural nation, blessed with abundant fertile land and a climate suitable for multiple crop cycles, a rare combination globally. He commended India's achievement of enabling year-round farming for its farmers.
The Union Minister of Cooperation emphasized the pivotal role of cooperative institutions in bridging the gap between food grain demand and production in the country. He predicted that in the coming decade, IFFCO's Nano Urea and Nano DAP would be recognized as significant experiments in the agricultural sector. Shah emphasized the need to reduce urea usage while promoting natural farming practices and boosting production.
Nano Urea's application directly on plants, instead of the soil, eliminates the risk of harming natural elements and soil-dwelling organisms. He encouraged Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to collaborate with IFFCO for the widespread adoption of Nano Urea and Nano DAP, moving Indian agriculture towards sustainability.
Amit Shah lauded IFFCO's efforts to establish state-of-the-art plants across India as a prime example of the 'Make in India' initiative. The Kalol unit is projected to produce approximately 42 lakh bottles of Nano DAP, offering significant benefits to farmers. He pointed out that 60% of the Indian population depends on agriculture for their livelihood, and 60% of the country's land is suitable for farming. Despite these favorable conditions, farmers and agriculture were previously neglected.
Highlighting the government's commitment to agriculture, Amit Shah cited a substantial increase in the budget allocation for farmers from Rs. 22,000 crores in 2014 to Rs. 1,22,000 crores by the financial year 2023-24 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He acknowledged the positive results of this budgetary increase, as evidenced by a surge in agricultural loans and production levels. The Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for crops such as paddy, wheat, and millet have significantly risen during this period.
Amit Shah also commended the government's subsidy on fertilizers, which increased from Rs. 73,000 crores in 2013-14 to Rs. 2,55,000 crores in 2023-24. Despite rising global fertilizer prices post the Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensured that the burden did not fall on the farmers.
The Home Minister encouraged IFFCO to document the journey of Nano Urea and DAP in a book, celebrating the successful establishment of factories in Kalol, Phulpur, and Ambla. He announced that the market would soon witness an expansion from 8 crore bottles to 18 crore bottles, offering eco-friendly and nutrient-rich nanotechnology-based fertilizers. This innovation is expected to result in substantial cost savings for farmers, ranging from 8% to 20%.
He urged IFFCO to share its valuable experiences to make these institutions global leaders in the cooperative sector. The cooperative sector, with the active participation of organizations like IFFCO, aims to revolutionize crop patterns and rejuvenate Indian agriculture, ensuring a prosperous future for the farming community.
