Market Trends of india micronutrient fertilizer Industry
Manganese deficiency is a common problem in European countries, which most frequently affects sandy soils and organic soils with a pH above 6
- The area under field crop cultivation in the country increased by 3.5% from 2017 to 2021. The increased cultivation of cereals, pulses, and oilseeds in the country due to the rising consumer demand domestically and internationally is the major driving factor for the rising acreage.
- By crop type, rice, wheat, and soybean occupied the largest area under cultivation in the country, accounting for 47 million ha, 31.1 million ha, and 12.3 million ha, respectively, in the year 2022. Rice is the most important food crop of India, covering about one-fourth of the total cropped area and providing food to about half of the Indian population. It is cultivated in almost all the states of the country, mainly in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu.
- Accordingly, rice consumption in the country increased from 95.8 million tons in 2016 to 107 million tons in 2022, which shows the rising demand for the crop in the country. This trend is further anticipated to drive the demand for fertilizers during 2023-2030. Similarly, wheat cultivation in the country increased from 98.5 million tons in 2017 to 107.6 million tons in the year 2020. It is cultivated majorly in Punjab, West Bengal, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Wheat is the second most important cereal crop in India and plays a vital role in the food and nutritional security of the country. Therefore, the intense cereal cultivation in the country, coupled with rising domestic and international demand, is anticipated to drive the Indian fertilizer market during 2023-2030.
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Widespread micronutrient deficiency in soils of India is leading to reduced crop yield
- The increasing consumption of chemical fertilizers has led to a higher deficiency of micronutrients in the soil, leading to lesser crop yield over the years. The State of Biofertilizers and Organic Fertilizers stated that the soil was highly deficient in boron (47.0%), zinc (39.0%), iron (37.0%), and sulfur (36.0%) in 2022.
- Empirical studies show that high-yielding cultivars were introduced to meet the growing demand for food, fiber, and fuel. These high-yielding crop cultivars were highly responsive to fertilizers. Thus, the soils were slowly exhausted from their nutrients. In 2021, manganese, copper, and zinc were found to have the highest average nutrient application rates of 9.8 kg/ha, 7.3 kg/ha, and 4.1 kg/ha, respectively.
- Crops such as rapeseed/canola, corn/maize, and rice were found to be the largest consumers of average micronutrients in 2021, accounting for 10.7, 6.8, and 6.3 kg/ha, respectively. The adoption of intensive and modern cropping practices with high-yielding crop cultivars and unbalanced fertilizer application resulted in the emergence of widespread micronutrient deficiency in soils and crops of India, leading to reduced crop yield and low micronutrient concentration in agricultural produce.
- States such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh are highly deficient in zinc and boron. Hence, micronutrient management depending upon crops, soil types, the severity of the deficiency, rates, and frequency of application has been adapted by the farmers in the country for sustainable agricultural production over the past few years, which is anticipated to drive the micronutrient market in the country.
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OTHER KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS COVERED IN THE REPORT
- The area under horticulture is steadily increasing due to the increasing demand for fruits and vegetables
- Manganese and copper are the highly applied nutrients in India, with 12.3 kg/ha and 7.3 kg/ha in 2022, due to their widespread deficiencies in soil
- Widespread micronutrient deficiency in soils of India is leading to reduced crop yield
- More than half of India’s cultivated land now has access to assured irrigation
