IFFCO Nano Fertilizer Network Project meet catapults IFFCO Nanofertilizers to Next Level

On 28th September, 2023. The world's largest fertilizer cooperative, IFFCO, organised an innovative and interactive convention at IFFCO Sadan, where agriculture scientists, researchers, directors, and vice chancellors of premium agriculture research institutes and agriculture universities participated. This meeting on nano fertilizers was organised to discuss the gaps, scope of R&D, and a way forward in the direction of Agriculture 2.0 so that farmers in the country can get more benefit. The major institutes participated, including TNAU, ICAR-CRIDA, INST Mohali, VNMKV, Parbhani, RVSKVV, Gwalior, and ICAR-IARI, Pusa, and New Delhi. During the meeting, a technical presentation was discussed that elaborated upon the structural, morphological, and efficacy benefits of IFFCO nano urea liquid and how the networking project will further update, upgrade, and provide quality data on IFFCO nanofertilizers as per crops and agroclimatic zones.

Dr. U.S. Awasthi, MD, IFFCO, appreciated this new initiative of the network meeting for nanofertilizers. He said that indigenous technology has to evolve to address the challenges of today, as resources are limited and climate change is a reality. He elaborated on IFFCO's drone ecosystem development project, which can cover more than 25 lakh acres of foliar spraying at the lowest cost for the farmers. Dr. V. Geethalakshmi, Vice Chancellor, TNAU, was confident that fertiliser consumption is leading to complications in soil health, and nano fertilizer has the solution, which has been documented by major departments of TNAU, Coimbatore. She added that the networking project would be beneficial in generating quality data on IFFCO nano fertilizer in crops being cultivated in different agroclimatic regions. Dr. V. K. Singh, Director, CRIDA, provided insights about the utility of nanofertilizers like nano urea liquid in rainfed and dryland crops based on multi-location trials conducted by CRIDA.

Nano urea can be a boon for millet crop productivity as it enhances photosynthetic activity. He emphasised that studies on nutrient mining and nutrient balance at multiple locations will further add value to propagating nanofertilizers.
Dr. Indra Mani, Vice Chancellor, VNMKV, Parbhani, emphasised developing site-specific SOPs for IFFCO nanoformulations for their wider adoption and marriage of drone technology with nanofertilizers. Dr. A. K. Shukla, Vice Chancellor, RVSKVV, Gwalior, suggested that varietal screening for nano fertilizer suitability can create new dimensions for nano fertilizer adoption. Dr. Rajeev Shukla, GBPUAT, Pantnagar, and Dr. Ashwini Kumar, ICAR-CSSRI, Karnal, shared that through their validation trials, they have found that it is possible to bring up to 50% reduction in bulk Urea applications.

Proper understanding has to develop about the correct stage of application and crop foliage growth for deriving the maximum response of nano urea. Nano-DAP has also resulted in enhanced germination of seeds in their trials. IFFCO Kisan drone services were exhibited through digital and physical means. Dr. S. Pazhanivelan of TNAU informed me that nano urea spray through drones over 1800 ha in paddy has shown a 7% yield increase with a reduction in GHG emissions. Mr. Yogendra Kumar, Marketing Director, IFFCO, summarised that nano urea liquid has evolved the scientific landscape, which will certainly be a boon not only for Indian agriculture but for world agriculture. All the participants visited and appreciated the stationed IFFCO EV with a drone facility for undertaking spraying in farmers’ fields.

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