Page 183 - CW E-Magazine (19-3-2024)

Special Report Special Report

SSP Industry – The way forward bentonite sulphur or any other suitable monthly movement plan of DoF. How- environmental impacts. The industry
fi ller can be allowed for production of ever, the freight subsidy as notifi ed by
has been making available SSP forti-
GSSP. Earlier, ICAR had also recom- the DoF in September 2022 favours the fi ed with Zn or B or Zn+B to farmers.
hosphorus is one of the essential of quality product to the farmers and mended that fi ller can be used to adjust units located near the ports or the mines Further, SSP fortifi ed with Zn+B+Mg
primary nutrient required for led to increased consumption. the P O content in GSSP. There is a of Rajasthan State Mines & Minerals and Zn+B+Fe have been incorporated
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Pnormal growth of crop. Single need to revisit the guidelines and allow Ltd. (RSMML). The plants near the port in FCO. It would be desirable to
Super Phosphate (SSP) is the oldest Automation requirements the use of fi ller in GSSP. benefi t from both, i.e., inward freight include such fortifi ed fertilisers in
known commercial fertiliser that has The guidelines also provided for cost and outward freight subsidy. Plants the NBS scheme, as it would help the
been supplying this important nutrient to implementation of basic automation like Raw material pricing in the hinterland, on the other hand, farmers in correcting nutrient defi ciency
various crops. Along with phosphorus, digital fl ow meters for acid and water The SSP industry like other sectors have to incur higher inward freight cost in soil. The current subsidy on Zn and
it also provides two secondary nutri- monitoring; digital weighing system for of the economy is also feeling the pres- for bringing imported rock phosphate B is quite inadequate, and needs to be
ents, i.e., sulphur and calcium. Besides, rock phosphate feeder; and their inte- sure of geopolitical scenario. Since the to their plants and also pay freight for increased looking to the market prices
it can also act as a carrier for other Improving quality gration with programmable logic controller domestic availability of rock phosphate moving the materials within 200-km, of Zn and B.
secondary and micronutrients like In recent times, there has been a (as the process controls used to be on is not suffi cient, SSP plants have to which is not covered under freight subsidy.
magnesium, boron, zinc, iron, etc. thrust by the Government of India to manual mode). The automation aimed import a large quantity of rock phosphate There is a need for a detailed study in In complex fertiliser segment, vari-
improve the quality and promote the to help controlling operations at a set for its production. The wide fl uctuation order to have an equitable freight policy.
The spread of SSP plants all across use of SSP among farmers. SSP was value, thus providing inputs in the right in the international prices of rock phos- ous NP/NPK grades with lower P O 5
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concentrations are available. Similarly,
the country has provided distinct brought under the Nutrient-Based Sub- proportion. It helps in minimizing loss phate during 2022-23 has adversely FAI is of the opinion that a lump SSP with lower P O concentration can
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advantage of effectively meeting the sidy (NBS) scheme in 2010 and treated of raw materials, improving the produc- affected the viability of the SSP industry. sum freight subsidy (Rs.1,200 per be permitted. It is worthwhile to men-
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demand of these vital nutrients in a very at par with the other P&K fertilisers. tivity of the plant, and ensuring quality The NBS rates are not suffi cient to cover tonne, as per the IMC recommendation) tion that earlier under FCO, SSP with
short span of time. The agronomic bene- This did augur well for the SSP indus- of the product. The other directive is to the price volatility, leading to losses should be allowed to all SSP plants, 14.0% P2O5 was included, which was
fi ts of SSP have been very well demon- try and provided relief for some time. have NABL-accredited laboratory in the to the industry. It may be highlighted irrespective of their location. later discontinued.
strated and documented by various Production went up from 3.09-mt in plant premises to carry out reliable ana- that the SSP plants operate on a smaller
agricultural institutes, industries and 2009-10 to 4.32-mt in 2011-12, but lysis of the product so that only product scale and hence unable to absorb such Promoting use Keeping in view the limited avail-
research organisations. again dipped to 3.91-mt in 2017-18. conforming to Fertiliser Control Order large fi nancial shock. SSP has been considered a poor ability of 30% P2O5 grade rock phos-
Again in 2021, in the wake of rising (FCO) standards is despatched from the farmer’s fertiliser because it is a cost phate and higher prices in the inter-
History of development global raw material prices of phospha- plant. Along with these, other measures At present, SSP industry is procur- effective and a multi-nutrient carrier, national market, DOF may allow the use
Production of SSP started way back tic fertilisers and fi nished products, the for environmental control have to be ing the rock phosphate in small lots, as and it’s use among the farmers should of 26% P O rock phosphate in order
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in 1906 in India. Since then, there has need for improving production of SSP implemented. Many plants have already per the requirement of individual com- be encouraged. Promoting use of SSP to produce mini-SSP (15% available
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been continuous addition in production was felt. Accordingly, the Government complied with the requirements and others pany. The high cost of imported rock will also play an important role strate- P O ). The inclusion of mini-SSP in
capacity through expansion and instal- emphasized promoting the use of indi- are in the process of implementation. phosphate can be addressed to a great gically as it is an indigenous product. FCO will help to reduce the production
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lation of new plants. There are 102 SSP genous SSP. One of the initiatives taken However, there may be some delay in extent if the industry purchases the India is largely dependent on imports of cost and make it cheaper to farmers.
plants, out of which 93 plants are in by the Department of Fertilisers (DoF) completing automation as per the guide- rock phosphate in large quantity jointly, phosphate for raw material/intermedi-
operation, with a total installed capacity in September, 2022 was bringing new lines due to procurement and delivery of either by forming a Special Purpose ates and fi nished products, but SSP can Making SSP affordable
of 12.25-mtpa as on November 1, 2023. guidelines for improving productivity equipment on time. Vehicle (SPV) or through an aggregator. also help in reducing import depen- The way forward to make SSP
Production of SSP was 5.65-mt during and quality of production. This would not only ensure the regular dence to some extent. This will help in affordable to farmers requires secured
2022-23, which id less than half of the Use of fi ller availability of rock phosphate at stabilising the international prices of raw material supply at affordable
installed production capacity. Subsequently, FAI organised a SSP is produced by reacting rock competitive price, but also reduce the rock phosphate, phosphoric acid, DAP prices, higher NBS rates and equitable
workshop in January, 2023, wherein phosphate with sulphuric acid. Ear- production cost. and NP/NPK complex fertilisers. freight subsidy. Introduction of mini-
It may be noted that production Hon’ble Union Minister for Chemicals & lier, the SSP industry was using fi ller SSP, use of fi llers for adjusting grade,
of SSP in the last fi ve years improved Fertilisers and Health & Family Wel- for the production of granulated single Subsidy issues More concerted efforts are needed and policy support to fortifi ed SSP will
from 3.91-mt in 2017-18 to 5.65-mt fare advised FAI to form a Task Force super phosphate (GSSP). However, SSP plants are located all across the on part of the Government, industry and also help in increasing its consumption.
in 2022-23. However, during April to to ensure quality production of SSP. from September 2022 onwards, the country. Some are near the ports, while other stakeholders to educate farmers Such steps will improve the health
December 2023, production and The industry responded quickly by Government through implementation majority of them are in the hinterland. through extension activities to increase of the SSP industry and attract more
consumption of SSP was 3.57-mt and creating the Task Force under the aegis of of new guidelines restricted its usage. In the past, based on the local demand its usage. Fortifi cation of SSP with investment in the sector, as well as
4.04-mt, respectively and showed a FAI for enabling industry to implement As a result, production of GSSP with- of SSP, investments were made by the various micronutrients for addressing place India in a much stronger position
considerable decline compared to the the requirements under guidelines issued out fi ller leads to higher P O content in industry. The major movement of SSP the multiple-nutrient defi ciency in soil with respect to its import dependence
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same period of last year. There is a need by DOF and thereby improving the the fi nal product, as prescribed in FCO, is by road. Currently, SSP industry is is becoming more relevant not only for on phosphatic fertilisers.
for analysis to understand the reasons image of the SSP as a quality product thereby resulting in fi nancial losses to entitled for primary freight subsidy as crops, but for human health as well. In
for the recent decline in production and among the farmers. This concerted the industry. It may be noted that PDIL per the policy, if the material is moved addition, it would also help to promote [Reproduced from Indian Journal of
consumption of SSP in India. efforts resulted in adequate availability was of the view that phosphogypsum/ by the company as per the approved effi cient fertiliser use, thereby reducing Fertilisers, 20 (2): 110-111, February, 2024]

182 Chemical Weekly March 19, 2024 Chemical Weekly March 19, 2024 183

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