West Asia crisis: Expert warns of fertiliser shortage, urges urgent organic farming plan

By A Representative 

A public policy expert has urgently appealed to the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, to initiate a national strategy for transitioning to organic and natural farming. The warning comes amid fears that escalating global conflicts could critically disrupt the supply of fertilisers and fuel imports ahead of the crucial Kharif 2026 sowing season. 

In a letter dated March 11, 2026, Dr. Narasimha Reddy Donthi highlights a "convergence of pressures" on Indian agriculture, stemming from military confrontations near the Strait of Hormuz. He argues that the disruption to Liquefied Natural Gas and petroleum shipments poses a direct threat to farmers preparing for the April-May sowing window. Dr. Reddy states that the case for urgent action rests on four simultaneous crises that are each serious on their own and collectively unprecedented in their combination.

The first major risk is to the fertiliser supply, as India's urea production, heavily reliant on gas from Gulf nations like Qatar, is facing severe feedstock uncertainty. This puts the supply of nitrogenous fertilisers essential for Kharif crops at risk. Second, disruptions to petroleum shipments are driving up diesel prices, increasing costs for irrigation, field operations, and transport. Third, with India importing sixty percent of its edible oil, shipping corridor disruptions are escalating costs, making the push for domestic oilseed production more urgent. Finally, supply chains for dal are under strain, exposing a critical protein source to both domestic yield risks and import uncertainty.

Dr. Reddy draws a stark parallel to the 2021 Sri Lankan economic crisis, where an abrupt and unplanned ban on synthetic fertilisers led to a catastrophic collapse in agricultural yields. He clarifies that the disaster was not a failure of organic agriculture, but a failure of governance to prepare, sequence, support, and communicate a transition. He stresses that India faces analogous pressures, and the lesson is that preparation must begin now to avoid a chaotic collapse.

To ensure a managed transition, the expert has urged the Ministry to use the next two months as a critical preparation window. He proposes that the government issue clear advisories to farmers about supply pressures and provide guidance on reduced-dose techniques. He recommends prioritising the distribution of existing fertiliser stocks to the most critical crops and regions. A key part of the plan is to launch an emergency National Organic Compost Mission to rapidly produce compost from municipal waste and crop residue, which can serve as a partial substitute for chemical fertilisers. 

Dr. Reddy also calls for the mobilisation of knowledge networks like Krishi Vigyan Kendras to train small farmers in natural farming techniques. He advises that these immediate crisis measures be embedded in a multi-year plan that reforms the fertiliser subsidy regime to support natural inputs. Finally, he urges that the enhanced domestic production of pulses and oilseeds be treated as a top food security priority, given the fragility of import supply chains.

Concluding his appeal, Dr. Reddy warns that the window before the kharif sowing season opens is only two months. He states that while it is not long, it is sufficient to begin the preparation that will make the difference between a managed transition and an unmanaged shortage. He has called on the Ministry to treat the matter with urgent attention to safeguard the nation's food security and the livelihoods of millions of farmers.