Key Details
A Lok Sabha reply on 7 August 2026 outlines the measures being used to promote nano fertilisers. It does not identify a single dedicated national adoption policy; instead, support is being delivered through availability, demonstrations, spraying services, research partnerships and State-level incentives.
Area | What Is Being Done | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
Product availability | Nano Urea and Nano DAP are sold through Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras | Uses the existing fertiliser-retail network to reach farmers |
Field demonstrations | More than 2.2 lakh farmer-field demonstrations have covered major crops during Kharif and Rabi seasons | Allows farmers to observe application methods and crop response |
Scientific trials | IFFCO reports over 120 Nano Urea trials and more than 97 Nano DAP trials with ICAR and agricultural universities | Builds crop- and location-specific evidence, although the reply does not present the results |
Application support | Kisan Drones, battery-operated sprayers and custom-hiring services through Village Level Entrepreneurs are being promoted | Addresses the equipment and service requirements of foliar application |
State incentives | Gujarat subsidises nano fertilisers; Rajasthan subsidises spraying; Uttarakhand requires their use in specified demonstrations; Odisha supports application under crop missions | Adoption support varies considerably between States |
Independent studies | The National Productivity Council and ICAR are assessing efficacy, conventional-urea replacement, yield, nutrient use and soil effects | Important questions about substitution and long-term performance remain under evaluation |
Haryana uptake | Bhiwani and Mahendragarh together recorded sales of 1,44,452 Nano Urea bottles and 24,743 Nano DAP bottles between February 2021 and July 2026 | Shows product uptake, but not the resulting yield, cost or fertiliser-saving outcomes |
Promotion Extends Beyond Product Distribution
Nano fertilisers are being promoted through farmer meetings, regional-language material, crop seminars, Kisan Melas and field demonstrations. Manufacturers are also working with ICAR institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, State Agricultural Universities and Agriculture Departments on trials and training.
Application infrastructure forms an important part of the programme. Nano Urea and Nano DAP are generally applied as foliar sprays, creating a need for suitable equipment and correct timing. The Government and manufacturers are therefore promoting:
battery-operated sprayers at retail points;
drone-based spraying;
pilot training for operators; and
custom-hiring services through Village Level Entrepreneurs.
These services may make the products easier to use without requiring every farmer to purchase spraying equipment.
States Are Using Different Incentive Models
The parliamentary reply shows that there is no uniform State-level support structure:
Gujarat provides a 50% subsidy on nano fertilisers.
Rajasthan subsidises 50% of the spraying cost.
Uttarakhand has incorporated nano fertilisers into demonstrations under selected Central and State schemes.
Odisha provides per-hectare assistance under foodgrain, pulses, maize and cotton programmes.
Odisha’s incentives range from ₹500 to ₹1,200 per hectare, depending on the crop mission and nano fertiliser used. These approaches test different constraints: the price of the product, the cost of spraying and farmers’ familiarity with its application.
Research Is Examining How Much Conventional Fertiliser Can Be Replaced
The key policy question is not simply whether nano fertilisers can be used, but how much conventional fertiliser they can safely and economically supplement or replace across different crops and farming conditions.
The National Productivity Council has undertaken studies comparing Nano Urea with conventional urea and assessing the extent to which conventional urea can be replaced. ICAR research is examining:
crop productivity and quality;
nitrogen-use efficiency and nutrient uptake;
soil health and biological activity;
long-term soil nitrogen balance; and
performance across different agro-ecological zones.
The parliamentary reply confirms that these assessments are underway but does not report their findings. The evidence presented therefore establishes a substantial promotion and research effort, not a settled conclusion that nano fertilisers can uniformly replace conventional fertilisers.
What Are Nano Fertilisers?
Nano fertilisers contain plant nutrients in very small particles or formulations intended to improve their absorption and use by crops. Nano Urea supplies nitrogen, while Nano DAP supplies nitrogen and phosphorus. They are commonly sprayed on plant leaves rather than applied to the soil in the same manner as conventional granular fertilisers.
Policy Relevance
Evidence should guide substitution: Recommendations on reducing conventional fertiliser must be based on crop-, soil- and region-specific results rather than a uniform replacement ratio.
Farmer economics matter alongside nutrient efficiency: Evaluation should compare product and spraying costs with changes in yield, fertiliser use and net farm income.
Application quality will shape outcomes: Incorrect concentration, timing or spraying coverage can limit effectiveness, making extension support and trained service providers important.
Demonstrations should lead to measurable evidence: Monitoring should distinguish the number of demonstrations from subsequent farmer adoption and verified agronomic results.
Sales are an incomplete measure of success: Bottle sales in Haryana show uptake, but do not establish whether farmers reduced conventional fertiliser use or received higher returns.
Independent evidence remains important: Manufacturer trials and feedback can support product development, while publicly reported ICAR and NPC findings can provide a stronger basis for national recommendations.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: What crop-specific evidence and farmer-income results should be required before nano fertilisers are recommended as substitutes for defined quantities of conventional fertilisers?
Follow the Full Parliamentary Reply Here: Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3326, answered on 7 August 2026