Rethinking on Fertilizers

ALONG WITH improved seeds, fertilizers occupy a crucial position in Subramaniam's new strategy of development for making the country self sufficient in food at the end of the Fourth plan. An allout effort was being made so far to attract foreign firms to set up fertilizer production in India and extensive concessions have been offered to them. It does not seem, however, that the Sivaraman Mission to the US and Canada has succeeded in attracting foreign participation to the extent desired. Partly because of this and partly for other reasons, there seems to be some rethinking in Delhi on the subject; the tide seems to be turning.

The target of food production needed for self sufficiency has itself been scaled down a little by the Planning Commission. The quantum of fertilizers needed to achieve this target now looks like being revised too, and in the reassessment of the situation, the designing, engineering and construction capabilities of the two public sector fertilizer units, the FCI and FACT, are being reappraised somewhat more favourably. In short, the eagerness to secure foreign participation at any cost in this area seems to be cooling off a little.