Under a barn in northern India, women scoop cow dung and lumps of unrefined sugar and flour to produce biofertiliser, part of growing efforts to address concerns about chemical fertilizer supplies.
Demand for organic mixtures in the country has risen in recent weeks as farmers prepare for the monsoon planting season, with growing concerns about the availability of diammonium phosphate, a key ingredient in chemical fertilisers.
India is among the world’s largest consumers of chemical fertilizers, using approximately 63 million tons annually.
But the conflict in the Middle East has put pressure on shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a major supply route, exacerbating anxiety among farmers ahead of the July-October seeding period.
While biofertilizers remain a niche entry, interest stems from uncertainty about supply, government encouragement of sustainable agriculture and growing awareness of soil degradation.
The domestic biofertilizer market is still a modest $150 million, but is expanding at a rate of about 10 percent as more farmers experiment with alternatives.
“We started thinking about what could benefit small farmers and improve soil health,” said Kamlesh Devi, 57, managing director of Tapal Samriddhi Mahila Kisan Ltd, which runs a biofertilizer unit in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
Established under the government’s Farmer Producer Organization programme, the company has 1,050 female members in 92 villages in the state and has been designated a ‘Beacon FPO’ as a model that can be replicated.
“Small farmers struggle to get enough fertiliser, so we thought FPO could help them,” she told AFP.
– Empowering women –
Drawing on traditional knowledge and support from leading experts, the women prepare biofertilizers using locally available raw materials.
Unlike their chemical counterparts, biofertilizers contain microorganisms that help plants access nutrients already in the soil.
For many in Tapal village, the project has helped empower women, who are traditionally expected to perform domestic duties.
“We were staying inside the house,” said Joginder, a member who goes by one name.
“Before, my husband made all the agricultural decisions. Now I can advise him on what to use in the fields and when.”
The unit has supplied about 200 farmers this season, most of them in nearby villages, although similar initiatives are being promoted in other states as part of a national drive towards sustainable agriculture.
The unit was set up last year, before the recent geopolitical tensions, but demand has risen as farmers brace for potential shortages despite government assurances of sufficient stock.
“There is concern among farmers, especially about the availability of urea,” said Amit Chauhan, head of Bharatpur village, adding that some farmers have started storing urea.
Kishan Prasad, a farmer in a nearby village, said he had already stocked 40 sacks of urea, which is used in rice cultivation.
“There are rumors that we may not get D and urea,” he said. “We needed it for the rice season, so I had to make sure I had enough.”
– Cost effective –
The price of Tapal biofertilizer is Rs 300 per 40 kg bag, compared to Rs 266 for a 50 kg fortified urea bag and about Rs 1,350 for 50 kg urea.
While biofertilizers are not a direct replacement, proponents say they can reduce reliance on chemical inputs.
Neto, a 28-year-old farmer, said she used the product on her pearl millet crop and reduced the use of urea by about a third without affecting crops.
“For rice also, I plan to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers,” she said.
Experts warn that biofertilizers alone cannot meet India’s needs.
“Biofertilizers are environmentally friendly and cost-effective supplements to chemical fertilisers,” said Brijesh Mishra, principal scientist at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute.
But their adoption remains limited, partly because the benefits are gradual and the same formulation cannot be used on all crops, making their use more complex.
“Farmers often expect immediate results, and sometimes use only one type of biofertilizer, which limits its effectiveness,” he added.
“Different crops require different combinations, and the benefits accumulate gradually over time.”
Interest in biofertilizers is also linked to environmental concerns, as researchers say they increase soil organic carbon, which contributes to carbon sequestration.
A 2024 report by the United Nations Environment Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization warned that rising nitrous oxide emissions linked to fertilizer use threaten climate goals.
Mishra said reducing the use of chemical fertilizers could reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with their manufacture and transportation.
As for the women in Tapal, the goal is more urgent.
“It is enough for us that the soil health of our land improves,” said Suman, another managing director of Tapal Samriddhi Mahila Kisan.
“We used to have healthy soil earlier, and we just want to get it back,” she added.
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