The year 2014-15 ended leaving behind a mixed scenario of progress, setback and challenges in fertiliser sector. While analyzing the developments in the year passed, the first in order comes the performance of monsoon which is crucial for fertiliser use and agricultural production. After receiving exceedingly good pre-monsoon shower, the rainfall during South west monsoon 2014 was poor in major part of the country. Overall rainfall during 1st June to 30th September, 2014 was 12 per cent below Long Period Average (LPA). Good pre-monsoon rainfall and adequate water availability in reservoirs in early June 2014 facilitated fertiliser use for sowing of crops. However, poor rainfall during June-August 2014 affected fertiliser use adversely in rainfed areas. In irrigated areas, underground water was reported to have been extensively used during the period in absence of adequate precipitation. With good rainfall received in September, 2014 followed by adequate moisture availability in soil, the growth in consumption of fertiliser nutrients marked upward trend in Rabi 2014-15. All-India consumption of total fertiliser nutrients (N+P2O5+K2O) increased at a modest rate of 4.6% in 2014-15 after experiencing negative growth in preceding three years. Total nutrient consumption increased from a total of 24.48 million metric tonne (MMT) during 2013-14 to 25.62 MMT during 2014-15.
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