Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Foundation for Development of Rural Value Chains (FDRVC) to strengthen Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and expand access to innovative and sustainable agri-inputs across India.
Objectives of MoU
- Empower 800+ FPOs and reach over 10 lakh farmers.
- Provide FPOs with:
- Nano fertilisers
- Bio-stimulants
- Specialty fertilisers
- Bio-fertilisers
- Bio-decomposers
- Enable last-mile delivery of quality inputs at affordable prices, especially to small and marginal farmers.
- Strengthen institutional capacity of FPOs and help them become self-sustaining rural enterprises.
About IFFCO
- India’s largest fertiliser cooperative with over 36,000 member cooperatives.
- Core focus: Manufacturing and marketing of fertilisers, with business diversification into general insurance, rural telecom, and more.
- Based in New Delhi, established in 1967.
Key Innovations by IFFCO:
1. Nano Urea Liquid (Introduced in Nov 2024)
- World’s first liquid nano urea for farmers.
- Developed using nanotechnology.
- Contains 4% nitrogen (w/v).
- Particle size: 20–50 nm with ~55,000 nitrogen particles per mm of conventional urea prill.
- 10,000x more surface area than traditional urea → Improved efficiency.
2. Nano DAP (Launched in 2023)
- Liquid nano-fertiliser for improved nutrient uptake.
- Composition: 8% Nitrogen, 16% Phosphorus (by volume).
- Nano-particles size: < 100 nm
- Higher absorption and efficiency compared to traditional DAP granules.
Role of FDRVC:
- A not-for-profit organization promoted under the Ministry of Rural Development.
- Supports professionally managed, producer-owned collective enterprises.
- Facilitates:
- Farmer outreach
- Community-led promotion
- Agri-input education
- Institutional capacity building of FPOs
Significance of Partnership:
- Ensures wider reach of high-quality agri-inputs even in remote regions.
- Promotes climate-smart and sustainable agriculture through nano and bio-based solutions.
- Strengthens the rural economy by transforming FPOs into profitable, self-reliant units.
- Aligns with the government’s goals under Atmanirbhar Bharat and Doubling Farmers’ Income.