Context:
India is planning a transition to green urea production by 2028 to reduce import dependence, lower subsidy burden, and ensure sustainable agriculture.
Key Highlights:
- High Dependency:
- Nearly 90% of urea linked to imports (direct/indirect via gas)
- Rising Subsidy Burden:
- Increased from ₹500 crore (1980-81) to ₹1.65 lakh crore (2022-23)
- Green Transition Goal:
- Green urea expected to become cost-effective by 2028
- Policy Initiative:
- Proposed Green Urea Mission
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Urea:
- Nitrogen-based fertilizer widely used in agriculture
- Grey Urea:
- Produced using natural gas (fossil fuel-based)
- Green Urea:
- Produced using renewable energy + green hydrogen
- Carbon Capture & Utilisation (CCU):
- Capturing CO₂ emissions for industrial reuse
- National Green Hydrogen Mission:
- Promotes clean hydrogen production
Relevant Mains Points:
- Challenges in Current System:
- Heavy reliance on imported natural gas
- Environmental damage due to excessive urea use
- Distorted fertilizer use due to subsidy imbalance
- Benefits of Green Urea:
- Reduces import dependence and fiscal burden
- Supports climate goals and decarbonization
- Enhances energy security
- Agricultural Concerns:
- Overuse leads to soil degradation and low nutrient efficiency
- Need to rebalance NPK ratio (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium)
- Policy Imperatives:
- Promote bio-fertilizers and organic farming
- Encourage precision agriculture
- Reform subsidy regime
- Way Forward:
- Accelerate green hydrogen infrastructure
- Implement phased decontrol of urea sector
- Incentivize private sector participation
- Promote farmer awareness on balanced fertilization
- Strengthen R&D in sustainable fertilizers
UPSC Relevance:
• GS 3: Economy – Fertilizer sector, subsidies
• GS 3: Environment – Sustainable agriculture
• GS 2: Governance – Policy reforms
• Prelims: Types of urea, hydrogen mission, CCU