Impact of Neem-coated Urea on Production, Productivity and Soil Health in Punjab

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to analyze the trends in usage and prices of urea in Punjab, to analyze the adoption behavior of neem coated urea (NCU) among selected farmers, to analyze the impact of adoption of NCU on crop productivity and farmers ’income and to suggest suitable policy measures for adoption of NCU. The data were collected from randomly selected 200 farmers from four blocks of Ludhiana and Patiala districts where paddy is a major kharif crop which requires adequate doses of urea for its growth. The results of the study revealed that the consumption/sale of urea in Punjab during the year 2007–08 was 2646.44 th. MT which rose to 3086.05 th. MT during the period 2007–08 to 2015–16 at an annual growth rate of 1.64 percent. The urea prices increased significantly at the highest growth of 5.21 percent per annum during the decade 1990–91 to 1999–2000 while during the period 1980–81 to 2015–16 the growth in urea prices was 3.33 percent per annum. The analysis of the primary data revealed that the majority of the respondent farmers purchased NCU and Normal urea (NU) from co-operative societies followed by private fertilizer dealers while the cost per bag of NCU, including transportation cost, worked out to be 289.69 while it was 276.58 per bag in case of NU. There was marginal increase in the productivity of paddy crop during the year 2015–16 as compared to the year 2014–15. The net returns per acre were estimated to be 31401 during the year 2015–16 and 29530 in 2014–15. As far as awareness about NCU was concerned, almost all the selected farmers were aware about the NCU and major source of awareness was co-operative societies. There was a significant increase in the application of NCU after 2015–16 in crops such as; paddy, wheat, basmati, sugarcane, potato, maize, sunflower, and vegetables. Due to the application of NCU, only 5.29 percent farmers reported about the increase in paddy yield while the cost of pest and disease control declined by 21 percent. There was increase in productivity of paddy crop where neem coated urea (NCU) was applied on the sample farms. Also, the NCU usage on the sample farms increased while cost of pest and disease control measures declined. The partial budgeting technique brought out that there were added returns of 718 per acre by application of NCU on the sample farms. It was also revealed by all the respondents that there was no change in the texture of the soil, soil moisture retention capacity, water infiltration rate, soil softness and decline in the compaction of the soil due to application of NCU but there was higher retention of nitrate in the soil and thereby its slow release to the crop. Also, the NCU usage on the sample farms increased while cost of pest and disease control measures declined. High price of NCU, inadequate/shortage of supply during peak season and poor quality of NCU in some of the co-operative societies were the major problems reported by the respondents. Major suggestions were; assured/timely and adequate supply of NCU to co-operative societies and organizing training camps for spreading awareness. Major policy issue suggested was to lay emphasis on ensuring good quality, adequate quantity and timely supply of NCU along with bringing its price at par with NU.