FERTILISER SUPPLY CONCERNS
Beyond rice exports, the conflict is raising concerns over fertiliser supplies, which are critical for India’s next sowing season.
The country is heavily reliant on fertiliser imports. A bulk of India’s urea imports – its most widely used fertiliser – comes from Gulf nations such as Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
At the same time, nearly half of India’s liquefied natural gas – used to produce urea domestically – comes from Qatar, where export capacity has been affected by Iranian attacks.
The Indian government has assured that it has sufficient fertiliser stocks for the upcoming sowing season and is exploring alternative sources to ensure continued supply. It has also prioritised gas supply to domestic fertiliser plants.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told parliament on Monday (Mar 23) that his government is working to protect its people from the impact of the Middle East conflict.
“The government has made adequate arrangements for fertilisers in recent years to handle emergency situations, and has ensured that the burden of global crises does not fall on farmers,” he added.
Experts say the situation highlights the need for longer-term reforms.
Narasimha Reddy Donthi, visiting faculty at Delhi-based think-tank Impact and Policy Research Institute, said India should shift its focus from increasing the use of chemical fertilisers to promoting organic alternatives.
“This will be more sustainable and independent of the war and any other international developments,” he said.