Aug 25, 2012

Situation analysis Fertilizer price increase is higher than commodities in 2011 Farmers ability to buy fertilizers decreased, lead to: Reduction in N and P use Widening N:P ratio Higher land use efficiency to meet increasing population needs Financial impact on national exchequer from wheat alone 1 maund / acre wheat yield contributes 24 B Rs Lower fertilizer use may reduce yield by 10 – 15% Potential loss to GDP can be 72 – 96 B Rs Food security may be compromised leading to higher crime rate and serious law & order situation Catastrophic situation, calls for serious focus to enhance fertilizer use efficiency

Consumption was growing with stable price till 2009 Bumpy ride started from 2010 –Installed production capacity reached 6.9 million tons –Gas supply curtailed by GOP from 2010 and almost stopped in 2012 –Production losses lead shortage and market price increase –Imports not aligned with consumption, maximum product arrived after peak –Higher price affected farmers’ buy-ability leading to lower consumptions Price (Rs/bag) kt Consumption (-6%) 5.9 (-3%) Urea Price impact 3.1 (-1%)

DAP off take has strong correlation with price and acceptance by farmers –2–2007 Oct – Nov : price was 1.4 k Rs/bag and off takes were 202 and 335 kt –2–2008 : Nominal sales between Mar – Sep at 2.7 – 3.0 k Rs/bag. Situation changed with wheat price to 950 Rs/40 kg and DAP off take were 484 kt in 4Q even at 3.1 k Rs/ bag –2–2010 : Farmers resisted to 2,000 + price level in 3Qs. Factors for higher sales in 4Q Impact of increasing international price put fear of even higher price Higher Cotton price improved farmers ability to invest in wheat –2–2011 and 12 : Farmer response to k Rs/bag has been very poor Rs/bag kt Consumption DAP Price impact

Land use efficiency Increasing LUE and yields, Lower fertilizer use : more mining of nutrients Depleted soils require higher fertilizer to even maintain yield levels Higher fertilizer price forced famers to further reduce dose Improving fertilizer efficiency and balance application seems better option

N:P Ratio analysis Recommended NP ratio 1:0.50 Urea and DAP taken, being highest volume products in N & P Offtake Ratio UreaDAP ,917 1, , ,493 1, ,111 1, ,918 1, Jan - Jul 12 3, Remedy Balance use and higher use efficiency, quick & economical

Nitrogen use efficiency Research by International Fertilizer Association Indicator : kg grains produced with each kg of N used China India Pakistan Kg

Correlation Wheat production is directly affect by P fertilizers sales P sales declined in resulted in lower wheat production despite 18% higher N fertilizers sales

Conclusion Countries are generously investing to enhance use efficiency E-Chopal is one such example Invested over 1 B IRs to develop GPS base soil fertility map Now facility available to famers at their farms spontaneously Excellent step forward by Dr A Rashid and his team Best use of in-house resources Humble start with negligible investment Potential to become knowledge hub for farmers and change fertilizer use habits leading to higher productivity Request authorities to provide maximum support to meet current challenges of Food Security Funds to expand crop and geographical base Cordial information sharing by all departments