PM-KISAN support may be encouraging farm investment in Tripura as fertilizer consumption rises, with official data showing increased use after 2018-19. Experts say income support can ease liquidity constraints, while noting that several agricultural factors also influence fertilizer demand.
Direct income support under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) may be creating greater scope for agricultural investment in Tripura, as official state data shows a substantial increase in chemical fertiliser consumption in the years following the scheme’s implementation.
PM-KISAN became operational from December 1, 2018, with the objective of providing income support to eligible landholding farmer families. Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries receive Rs 6,000 annually in three equal instalments. According to the official PM-KISAN framework, the financial assistance is intended to supplement farmers’ financial needs for agricultural inputs and allied activities.
Data from the Tripura Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare shows that the total consumption of nitrogenous, phosphate and potassic fertilisers stood at 16,340.013 metric tonnes in 2017-18. The figure declined to 14,129.890 metric tonnes in 2018-19, before rising to 18,447.130 metric tonnes in 2019-20 and 18,620.491 metric tonnes in 2020-21.
Fertiliser consumption continued to remain above the pre-2018-19 level in subsequent years. It reached 18,653.490 metric tonnes in 2021-22 and increased further to 20,527.309 metric tonnes in 2022-23. In 2023-24, total fertiliser consumption stood at 20,706.789 metric tonnes.
Based on these figures, total consumption in 2023-24 was about 26.7 per cent higher than in 2017-18 and around 46.5 per cent higher than in 2018-19. The rise has prompted discussion over whether direct income support could be helping farmers allocate more resources towards cultivation inputs.
Agricultural economist Dr. Kiran Bhowmik of the Department of Economics, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, said direct income support could help reduce temporary liquidity constraints faced by farmers.
“Additional liquidity in the hands of farmers can potentially support expenditure on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation and labour, thereby creating greater scope for farm investment,” he said.
However, Dr. Bhowmik cautioned against directly attributing the increase in fertiliser consumption to PM-KISAN alone. Changes in cultivated area, cropping patterns, irrigation facilities, input prices, weather conditions, other government programmes and technological adoption can also affect the level of fertiliser use.
The 2023-24 data provides a further breakdown of consumption. Nitrogenous fertiliser accounted for 9,814.284 metric tonnes, while phosphate fertiliser consumption stood at 7,919.246 metric tonnes. Potassic fertiliser consumption was recorded at 2,973.259 metric tonnes.
The figures also highlight the importance of balanced nutrient application and soil-specific fertiliser management. Higher overall consumption does not necessarily indicate higher productivity, making appropriate nutrient management an important consideration for sustainable agricultural development.
Dr. Bhowmik said the impact of PM-KISAN should be examined through a broader set of indicators, including changes in farm income, crop yields, cultivated area, production costs, agricultural credit requirements and farmers’ net income.
He suggested that district-level studies comparing conditions before and after the introduction of PM-KISAN could provide stronger evidence about the relationship between income support and agricultural investment in Tripura.
According to the assessment, combining direct income support with irrigation facilities, quality seeds, soil testing, agricultural extension services, technology and improved market access could further strengthen its contribution to farm development.
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Tripura’s rising fertiliser consumption therefore provides an important indicator for examining changes in agricultural input use since the introduction of PM-KISAN, while further research would be needed to establish the scheme’s specific contribution to investment and productivity.
