Co-operative Sector

There are a number of fertiliser plants in the co-operative sector out of which, the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Co-operative Limited (IFF CO) is the most important. IFF CO has six production units one each at Aonla—two units (Bareilly), Kalol and Kandla (Gujarat), and Phidpur—two units (Allahabad). The KRIBHCO has a gas based urea-ammonia plant at Hazira in Gujarat.

India is not self sufficient in the matter of chemical fertilisers. About 50 per cent of the country’s requirement is met by import.

The consumption, indigenous production, and imports of fertilisers in terms of fertiliser nutrients (NPK) during the period 2000-2001 and 2005-2006 are given below:

Table 11.8 Consumption, Production, and Imports of Fertilisers (lakh tonnes)

Source: India, 2010, p. 667.

It may be seen from Table 11.8 that the consumption of chemical fertilisers in 2007-08 was 220 lakh tonnes out of which 190 lakh tonnes was produced indigenously and the remaining 30 per cent was imported.

Aonla: Situated in the District of Bareilly, the Aonla Chemical Fertiliser Plant was established by the Indian Farmers Fertilisers Co-operative Limited. The plant was commissioned in 1974. It meets the requirements of the farmers of the Rohilkhand Division of Uttar Pradesh.

Hazira: Situated in the state of Gujarat, Hazira is a modem chemical fertiliser plant. The smelting in this plant is done with the help of natural gas obtained from the Bombay High.

Kalol: Situated in the state of Gujarat, Kalol is one of the important petro-chemical complex of India. In addition to refinery it produces nitrogenous and phosphoric fertilisers. The natural gas for the production of fertilisers is obtained from the Gulf of Khambat.

Sindri: The first chemical fertiliser plant of India in public sector was established at Sindri in 1951 in the state of Jharkhand (erstwhile Bihar). The chemical fertilisers are produced with the help of coking coal. It is the main supplier of chemical fertilisers to the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.