Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya laid the foundation stone for ‘Nano Urea project’ and ‘Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM)-SHEETALA’ project at the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Trombay Unit in Mumbai today. Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar was also present at the occasion.

Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar started their visit by paying floral tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.

While inaugurating the facilities, Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said the estimated project cost of the proposed Nano-Urea plant is Rs. 150 Crore. He said ‘The capacity of the proposed plant at RCF is 1.5 Lakh bottles (500 ml) per day and will be able meet the future demands of farmers. The plant will functional within one year’. ‘After the plant is functional, the nano-urea produced by RCF in an year will be able to replace 20 lakh metric tonnes of conventional urea, he added.

 

The Nano-Urea project aims to keep the environment safe for future generations while securing food for all. Nano Urea is a revolutionary product which will help to protect the health of the soil by reducing the use of Urea by up to 50 percent for the same yield. The project is based on the technology developed by M/s IFFCO.

Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya pitched for use of nano-fertilizer as a substitute for conventional fertilizers in the agriculture sector. He said conventional urea has adverse effect on the soil and crops, hence the farmers now-a-days prefer use of soil friendly nano-fertilizers.

The Nano Urea, in liquid form, when sprayed on the leaves gets absorbed by plants more effectively thereby avoiding losses due to leaching and/or run off to water bodies as in case of conventional Urea.

Union Minister Dr. Mandaviya further said the PROM fertilizer unit that will be established here will be able to reduce the use of unsafe fertilizers. The capacity of the proposed Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM) – SHEETALA  plant is estimated to be 6,000 MTPA.

SHEETALA PROM is produced by co-composting of rock phosphate and is an efficient way of adding phosphorus to soil as compared to chemical fertilizers. The product is a suitable source of nutrient for organic farming and improves the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil and increases crop production. SHEETALA enhances the activity of beneficial microorganisms in soil and helps in humus formation.

Union Minister also launched ‘FLOROLA- Gardening kit’, a kit for Urban Gardening developed by RCF.

 

Union Ministers Dr Mandaviya and Dr. Pawar also launched the Digital Apps for “Vigilance Grievance Monitoring System”, “RCF Dealer Parivar” and “RCF Parivar App”. The digital platforms aim to provide transparency and enhance communication.

After a comprehensive deliberation with the officials of RCF, Union Minister Dr. Mandaviya said that the prime focus of the Government is to reach out to the farmers through all possible medium and leverage the benefits of governance schemes such as soil health card.

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RT/SC/CP/PK

 

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