Fossil fuel in the farm, and food as fuel — a double bind, Pg16

Key Highlights:

• Indian agriculture faces a "double bind" from "fossilisation" (reliance on fossil fuels) and "fuelisation" (diversion of food for biofuels), exacerbated by global conflicts and weather events.
• Tractor usage has surged from 8,500 in 1950-51 to over 1.2 crore currently, with fertiliser consumption reaching 33.5 million tonnes of NPK in 2025-26.
• Global conflicts have driven up prices of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from $11 to $30 per MMBTU and naphtha from $515 to $915 per tonne.
• Sulphur prices, crucial for phosphate fertilisers, have soared from under $300 to $1,000-1,100 per tonne due to geopolitical tensions.
• India has advanced its Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme target to achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025-26, largely met ahead of schedule.
• The government has banned sugarcane juice and B-heavy molasses for ethanol production to mitigate food-versus-fuel concerns.

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Detailed Insights:

• "Fossilisation" of farming refers to the increasing dependence on fossil fuel-derived inputs like tractors, chemical fertilisers (urea, DAP), and crop protection chemicals.
• In 1950-51, farming relied on bullocks and farmyard manure, contrasting sharply with today's mechanised and chemical-intensive practices.
• The primary feedstocks for urea and other nitrogen fertilisers are fossil fuels, making agriculture vulnerable to global energy price fluctuations.
• Sulphur, a byproduct of oil refining, is indispensable for producing phosphate fertilisers like DAP and SSP.
• "Fuelisation" of food involves diverting food crops such as sugarcane, rice, and maize for biofuel production, driven by high crude oil prices.
• India's National Policy on Biofuels 2018, amended in 2022, expanded eligible feedstocks for ethanol and advanced the blending target.
• The National Policy on Biofuels 2018 also aims for 5% biodiesel blending in diesel by 2030.
• Low Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) for nitrogen (30-45%) and phosphorus (15-25%) in India leads to significant wastage and environmental concerns.
• Solutions include shifting to balanced complex fertilisers, using biostimulants, and adopting solar-powered drip irrigation systems.
• Government schemes like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) promote sustainable farming practices.
• The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) supports micro-irrigation to enhance water use efficiency in agriculture.
• While El Niño poses risks, India's diversified agriculture and increased irrigation (56% of gross cropped area) offer resilience compared to past shocks.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Fossilisation of Farming: Agriculture's growing reliance on fossil fuel-derived inputs like machinery, fertilisers, and pesticides.
• Fuelisation of Food: The diversion of food crops for the production of biofuels, creating a potential conflict between food security and energy needs.
• Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE): The proportion of applied fertiliser nutrients that crops effectively absorb and utilise for growth and yield.
• Ethanol Blending: The practice of mixing ethanol, typically derived from agricultural products, with petrol to reduce fossil fuel consumption and emissions.