Imbalanced application of different plant nutrients through fertilizers and inadequate access of indigenous sources, such as manures etc. to crops is a widespread problem in India. Lack of adequate knowledge among the farmers about the nutritional requirement of crops, poor access to proper guidelines on right use of plant nutrients combined with inadequate policy support through government regulations, distorted, and poorly targeted subsidies are the major reasons for imbalanced application of different nutrients to crops. This leads the context for innovations within the fertilizer industry as well as innovative methods of targeting farmers in addition to extension and communication approaches.

To deliberate on this gamut of issues, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), as part of the CSISA project, organized a National Dialogue on “Innovations for Promoting Balanced Application of Macro and Micro Nutrient Fertilizers in Indian Agriculture” on December 12, 2018, in New Delhi, India. Participants from key fertilizer industries and the Fertilizer Association of India (FAI), senior officers from state governments, research institutions, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research were present.

IFPRI Participants:

Welcome Address 

• Vartika Singh, Program Manager, IFPRI

Speakers

• Vartika Singh, Program Manager, IFPRI
• Avinash Kishore, Research Fellow, IFPRI
• Muzna Fatima Alvi, Associate Research Fellow, IFPRI