June 16, 2012
Indian district sees big jump in chemical fertiliser use
A large number of farmers in India''s Kalahandi district have amplified their fertiliser use in the last decade, to boost more revenue from paddy and cash crops.
Kalahandi is fast turning out to be one of the biggest chemical fertiliser consuming districts in the State.
As per Agriculture Department reports, from 1996 to 2000, chemical fertiliser consumption was only 23.66 to 39.85 kg per hectare.
However, the consumption during the last kharif season reached 77.22 kg per hectares, 93.78% more than the figure of 2000.
Fertiliser consumption in the last rabi was 63.59 kg per hectares from 21.88 kg recorded in the rabi season of 2000, registering a rise of 190.63%.
For the current kharif season, the department has decided to supply 66,620 tonnes of different chemical fertilisers as against consumption of 56,189 tonnes in the season of 2010 and 46,505 tonnes last year. If the target fixed for this year is finalised then the per hectare fertiliser consumption will reach 91.08 kg.
The situation is similar in the districts of Bhadrak, Balasore, Bargarh, Sambalpur and Nabarangpur where fertiliser consumption has increased manifold in the last five years.
As per a report of Directorate of Economics and Statistics Odisha-2012, the fertiliser consumption in these districts was 129 kg, 140 kg, 112 kg, 112 kg and 111 kg per hectares respectively as against State average of 59 kg.
Agriculture experts said indiscriminate and unbalanced application of chemical fertilisers to increase yield may adversely affect soil condition in the long run.
There has been no change in the trend although the State Government has been emphasising on use of vermi-compost, Azola and Gypsum in farms.
This apart, the Agriculture Department has been stressing balanced use of NPK along with application of organic manure, bio- fertilisers, and green manure to maintain soil health and sustain productivity level.
However, farmers said with the dwindling cattle population, preparing organic manure has been a problem.