Middle East Conflict Threatens India’s Urea Supply Amid Rising Fertiliser Imbalance Crisis

The conflict has spiked crude oil prices and has also led to an LPG crunch, triggering widespread concern across sectors dependent on petrochemical byproducts, including agriculture. Experts are suggesting that the disruption in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) supply could impact India's urea production, intensifying fears of shortages in a sector already under strain.

However, the crisis is of its own making, as farmers didn't stick to the advised nitrogen or urea ratio in the NPK fertiliser mix, making the country dependent on imports. According to scientific standards, an ideal fertiliser mix should be four parts nitrogen (N), two parts phosphorus (P), and one part of potash (P). Nitrogen is the urea component, and a higher quantity of which shows instant results in terms of productivity, but weakens roots and damages long-term soil fertility. Urea is 46% of nitrogen by weight.

In India, a blind pursuit for higher yields has seen farmers using a dangerously high level of urea (nitrogen) in the fertiliser mix. While the ideal NPK ratio is 4:2:1, the average in India is over 9:3:1, according to data from the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers. This means farmers in India are using more than 9 kg of nitrogen for every 1 kg of potash in the urea mix.

The data from certain states is deeply troublesome, highlighting the extent of the imbalance. In Nagaland, farmers are using 101 kg of nitrogen for every kilo of

potash, according to government data, underscoring an extreme deviation from recommended norms.

The unfolding situation signals a dual crisis—external disruptions in energy supply chains and internal agricultural practices—raising urgent concerns over sustainability, food security, and long-term soil health in India’s farming ecosystem