Fertilisers are like medicines for soil, use them wisely, says SC Mehta

India needs to move away from excessive fertiliser use and adopt a more balanced approach to farming, SC Mehta, CMD of Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd, said at the India Today Group's Kisan Tak Bharat Agriculture Conference. Mehta highlighted concerns over declining returns from fertiliser use, lower crop productivity, falling crop quality and rising government spending on fertiliser subsidies. He also pointed out that Indian farms lag behind China in productivity, particularly in wheat. Comparing fertilisers to medicines, he said farmers should use them carefully and in the right quantities, depending on the needs of their soil and crops. Excessive use not only affects soil health but also pollutes water and harms the environment. Mehta called for agricultural research to reach farmers directly and urged fertiliser companies to focus on improving farm productivity rather than simply selling products. He also suggested transferring fertiliser subsidies directly to farmers, giving them the freedom to choose products suited to their fields. Sharing the company's experience in Maharashtra, he said crop-specific fertilisers containing micronutrients and biostimulants had improved crop yields and quality in sugarcane, cotton and onion farming.