28 Aug 2023 Nano Liquid Urea
This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details “Authenticity of Nano Liquid Urea”. The topic “Authenticity of Nano Liquid Urea” has relevance in the Science and technology section of the UPSC CSE exam.
For Prelims:
What is Liquid Nano Urea?
For Mains:
GS 3: Science and Technology
What is the Context?
What are the Issues Highlighted in the Paper?
Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO)?
Why in the news:
A recent publication in the “Plant and Soil” journal has voiced apprehensions regarding the scientific credibility of the Nano Liquid Urea manufactured by the Indian Farmers and Fertilizer Cooperative (IFFCO).
What is Liquid Nano Urea?
- Liquid Nano Urea is a nanoparticle-based version of urea, designed to serve as a liquid nutrient for plants as an innovative substitute for traditional urea fertilizers.
- Urea is a chemical fertilizer known for its white crystalline appearance, supplying plants with essential nitrogen nutrients.
- The primary goal of Liquid Nano Urea is to replace conventional urea by reducing its usage by up to 50%.
- In a 500 ml container, it holds 40,000 mg/L of nitrogen content, equivalent in impact to the nitrogen supplied by a standard bag of traditional urea.
Development Origin:
- The development of Liquid Nano Urea was accomplished at the Nano Biotechnology Research Centre situated in Kalol, Gujarat. This achievement aligns with the concepts of self-reliant India (Atmanirbhar Bharat) and self-sustaining agriculture (Atmanirbhar Krishi).
- India typically relies on imports to fulfill its urea demand.
Significance:
- It has demonstrated its effectiveness in enhancing plant nutrition, resulting in increased agricultural productivity and improved nutritional qualities of crops.
- By reducing excessive urea application and enhancing soil balance, it contributes to robust and healthier crops while safeguarding against lodging.
- The utilization of Liquid Nano Urea also positively affects groundwater quality, significantly reduces global warming, and contributes to sustainable development, thereby influencing climate change.
What is the Context?
- In the backdrop of the development of nano liquid urea, IFFCO put forth the assertion that even a small quantity of this innovative solution could replace a significant portion of conventional urea.
- Both the central government and IFFCO have set ambitious objectives for the production and export expansion of nano urea.
- However, concerns have been raised by researchers regarding the potential repercussions of these plans, expressing apprehensions that exaggerated claims might result in substantial yield losses, impacting both food security and the livelihoods of farmers.
What are the Issues Highlighted in the Paper?
Discrepancy Between Claims and Outcomes:
- Nano liquid urea was introduced with great promise, positioned as a viable substitute for traditional granular urea.
- Regrettably, the application of nano liquid urea in real-world agricultural settings has not yielded the anticipated results. Farmers adopting this fertilizer have encountered elevated input costs without corresponding enhancements in crop yield.
- This glaring disparity underscores the contrast between the claims made about the product and the actual results it produces in practical scenarios.
What is the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited?
- The Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) stands as one of India’s largest cooperative societies, entirely owned by Indian cooperatives.
- Established in 1967 with a modest count of 57 cooperatives, it has grown into a confluence of more than 36,000 Indian cooperatives. Its operational scope spans diverse areas including General Insurance, Rural Telecom, and its core function of manufacturing and vending fertilizers.
Primary Goal:
- IFFCO’s central objective revolves around facilitating the prosperity of Indian farmers by ensuring the timely provision of dependable, high-quality agricultural inputs and services. This mission is pursued while maintaining environmental sustainability, and it encompasses additional endeavors geared towards enhancing the well-being of farmers.
In Conclusion:
The controversy surrounding Nano Liquid Urea acts as a poignant reminder of the imperative for transparency and conscientious innovation within the agricultural domain.
Striking a harmonious equilibrium between technological progress and ecological sustainability emerges as a critical factor not only for the welfare of farmers and food security but also for the overall health of our planet.
Q.1 With reference to the ‘Nano Urea’ recently seen in news, consider the following statements:
- Nano urea is a form of urea fertilizer that is designed to enhance crop yield and reduce nitrogen losses.
- Nano urea particles are larger in size compared to conventional urea particles, which leads to slower nutrient release.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: A
Q.2 With reference to the ‘Nano Urea’ recently seen in news, consider the following statements:
- One of the potential benefits of nano urea is its ability to mitigate soil and water pollution caused by excessive nitrogen runoff.
- Nano urea is exclusively designed for foliar application and cannot be used as a soil-applied fertilizer.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: A
Q.3 Discuss the potential of nano urea in contributing to sustainable agricultural practices.
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