India has achieved a major breakthrough in agriculture by developing its first indigenous water-soluble fertiliser technology after seven years of research. This innovation could transform the country from being largely import-dependent to becoming an exporter in the global specialty fertiliser market.
The project, backed by the Ministry of Mines, has been created using Indian raw materials and plants. Experts are calling it a true “Make in India” success story, as it has the potential to reduce India’s heavy reliance on imports from China, which currently supplies nearly 80–95% of the country’s specialty fertilisers.
“My aim was to make India an export-dominating country in specialty fertilisers, rather than an import-dependent one,” said Rajib Chakraborty, President of the Soluble Fertilizer Industry Association (SFIA), who led the initiative.
Breaking China’s Grip on Supply Chains
India’s dependence on China began in 2005, when European suppliers started sourcing fertilisers from Chinese companies for the Indian market. Over time, Chinese players gained near-total control of global supply chains. Today, apart from about 5% of NPK formulations produced domestically, almost all of India’s specialty fertilisers come from China.
Chakraborty recalled the tough journey of research and development (R&D). “R&D means failing a thousand times before succeeding once. At one stage, I was almost out of business,” he said.
Technology Cleared for Scale-Up
The new technology has passed multiple government evaluations and received official backing for a pilot plant, which is now ready for expansion. Large-scale commercial production is expected within two years, with joint venture discussions already underway with major fertiliser companies.
“This will start reaching the market two years from now. With big production capacities, India will move closer to self-reliance in specialty fertilisers,” Chakraborty said.
A Cleaner, Cost-Effective Solution
Unlike traditional methods that require different processes for each fertiliser, this breakthrough offers a single technology platform to produce almost all types of water-soluble fertilisers. Importantly, it is designed as a zero-effluent, emission-free process, which was a key factor in its recognition as a project of national importance by the Ministry of Mines.
Another advantage is the elimination of high costs linked to foreign technology licenses. “Almost all fertiliser technologies in India today are borrowed from abroad, and we pay heavily for them—including for upgrades. With our own technology, we can continue to innovate and improve without extra costs,” he added.
Towards Self-Reliance
If successfully scaled, this indigenous technology will not only cut India’s dependency on China but also position the country as a strong exporter in the global fertiliser market. For farmers, it promises better access to high-quality, eco-friendly fertilisers produced in India itself.
