With the objective of placing farmers at the centre of policymaking, ensuring timely availability of fertilisers and improving soil health, the Department of Fertilizers organised a day-long Chintan Shivir in New Delhi. The deliberations focused on making agriculture more sustainable, efficient and farmer friendly through balanced fertiliser use and coordinated policy action.
The session was attended by senior officials from the Department of Fertilizers and State Governments, scientists, and representatives from the fertiliser industry. Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Jagat Prakash Nadda and Minister of State Anupriya Patel interacted closely with participants, underlining the government’s emphasis on inclusive consultation and evidence-based decision-making.
Addressing the gathering, Jagat Prakash Nadda said that making farmers’ lives easier remains a top priority of the government. He noted that the Prime Minister has consistently placed farmers at the core of governance, and policies must reflect this commitment. Despite multiple challenges during the year, he said the Department of Fertilizers ensured uninterrupted and adequate supply of fertilisers across the country. He highlighted that a combination of record domestic production and timely imports enabled the department to meet farmers’ requirements during the peak agricultural seasons.
The Union Minister emphasised the need for balanced and judicious use of fertilisers to improve soil health and long-term productivity. He also underlined the importance of coordinated efforts among various government departments to prevent diversion or misuse of fertilisers for non-agricultural purposes, while ensuring that genuine farmers receive timely and affordable inputs.
Minister of State Anupriya Patel said the Prime Minister’s vision is to make India a reliable and sustainable contributor to the global food basket. She stated that the Chintan Shivir would generate innovative ideas and actionable solutions to strengthen the fertiliser ecosystem and support India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Fertilizer Secretary Rajat Kumar Mishra said that the government, public sector undertakings and private industry representatives jointly placed farmers at the centre of discussions. He noted that the Shivir was designed to be highly interactive, allowing every idea to be examined and refined through collective deliberation, with the expectation of improved outcomes from shared expertise.
The one-day camp, held at the National Agricultural Science Complex in New Delhi, saw 15 thematic groups engaging in detailed discussions and offering practical recommendations. The Union Minister, Minister of State and the Fertilizer Secretary personally interacted with each group to hear their views and suggestions.
The groups deliberated on 15 key areas, including development of new-age fertilisers, achieving self-sufficiency in fertiliser production, enhancing farmer outreach and awareness, improving the fertiliser ecosystem through digital solutions, and strengthening the Nutrient Based Subsidy framework.
Senior officials from fertiliser public sector undertakings, along with representatives from cooperative societies and private companies, participated in the Chintan Shivir. The discussions reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustainable agriculture, efficient fertiliser management and farmer-centric reforms aimed at improving productivity and livelihoods.
