The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers recently announced the implementation of the One Nation One Fertiliser scheme. Under this scheme, a “Single Brand for Fertilisers and Logo” will be introduced under the fertiliser subsidy initiative known as “Pradhanmantri Bhartiya Janurvarak Pariyojna” (PMBJP). The aim of this program is to establish uniformity in fertiliser brands across the country.
Details of the Scheme
Under the One Nation One Fertiliser initiative, companies are permitted to display their name, brand, logo, and other pertinent product information on only one-third of the space on their bags. The remaining two-thirds of the space must display the “Bharat” brand and the Pradhanmantri Bharatiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana logo.
The universal brand name for UREA, Di-Ammonium Phosphate DAP, Muriate of potash (MOP), and Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium NPK will be BHARAT UREA, BHARAT DAP, BHARAT MOP, and BHARAT NPK respectively. This applies to all Fertiliser Companies, State Trading Entities (STEs), and Fertiliser Marketing Entities (FMEs). The scheme is applicable to both public and private sector companies.
Potential Drawbacks of the Scheme
This new scheme could possibly deter fertiliser companies from pursuing marketing and brand promotion activities. These companies may now be relegated to the role of contract manufacturers and importers for the government. Currently, if a bag or batch of fertilisers fails to meet the required standards, the blame falls on the company. However, with this new scheme, any blame may be directed entirely towards the government.
UPSC Examination Reference
A previous year’s question (PYQs) for the UPSC Civil Services Examination asked candidates to evaluate statements about chemical fertilisers in India. The considerations included the retail pricing of fertilisers, inputs of urea production, and the sources of raw materials for phosphoric acid fertiliser.
In response to these questions, the government subsidizes fertilizers to ensure availability to farmers and maintain self-sufficiency in agricultural production. This is primarily achieved by controlling the price of fertilizers and the volume of production. Ammonia, a key input for urea, is synthesized from natural gas in a process that involves breaking down gas molecules into carbon and hydrogen, which are then reacted with nitrogen to produce ammonia. Sulfur, a primary raw material for phosphoric acid fertiliser, is a by-product of oil refineries and gas processing facilities.