Where fossil fuel shocks hurt India’s farmers

Why in the News?

India’s agricultural system is facing a structural vulnerability as rising global fossil fuel disruptions are directly impacting fertiliser availability, diesel prices, and farm mechanisation. While the Green Revolution ensured food security, it also locked Indian agriculture into fossil fuel-dependent inputs. Strikingly, tractor numbers have surged from 5,000 (1946-47) to over 12 million, while draught animal power collapsed to just 2.3%. This exposes how deeply “fossilisation” has replaced traditional resilience. With India importing key fertiliser inputs and relying heavily on global energy markets, even distant crises (e.g., West Asia disruptions) now threaten domestic food security, making this a systemic and growing risk.

How has Indian agriculture transitioned from traditional to fossil-fuel dependence?

1. De-bullockisation: Decline of draught animals from 80.8 million (1972) to 34.8 million (2019); reduced reliance on animal power.
2. Mechanisation surge: Tractor numbers increased to 12 million, replacing manual and animal labour.
3. Energy transition: Farm power shifted from animal-based to mechanical (1991-92) and later to electrical dominance.
4. Irrigation shift: Replacement of Persian wheels with diesel/electric pumps.
5. Outcome: Ensures higher productivity but increases dependence on fossil energy.

Why is fertiliser production highly vulnerable to fossil fuel shocks?

1. Feedstock dependence: Natural gas serves as primary input for nitrogen fertilisers.
2. Import reliance: India imports ammonia, urea inputs, and phosphatic fertilisers.
3. Input linkage: Naphtha and petroleum derivatives used in fertiliser production.
4. Supply chain exposure: Strait of Hormuz disruptions affect fertiliser imports.
5. Outcome: Creates direct linkage between global energy markets and domestic food security.

How did the Green Revolution embed fossil fuel dependency?

1. Input-intensive farming: Heavy reliance on chemical fertilisers like urea, DAP, MOP.
2. Crop protection chemicals: Increased use of pesticides derived from petrochemicals.
3. High-yield varieties: Require intensive fertiliser and irrigation inputs.
4. NPK consumption rise: 32.9 million tonnes, dominated by urea and DAP.
5. Outcome: Ensures foodgrain surplus but increases systemic vulnerability.

What are the macroeconomic and food security implications?

1. Imported inflation: Rising energy prices increase fertiliser and diesel costs.
2. Subsidy burden: Government faces fiscal pressure due to fertiliser subsidies.
3. Supply shocks: Export restrictions by major suppliers (e.g., China) worsen shortages.
4. Price volatility: Global conflicts trigger domestic input cost spikes
5. Outcome: Weakens agricultural resilience and threatens price stability.

How has farm power composition changed over time?

1. 1961-62: Total power ~39.99 million kW (animal-dominated).
2. 1991-92: Mechanical power overtakes animate sources.
3. 2024-25: Total power reaches 550.82 million kW, with electrical dominance.
4. Decline of animals: Share reduced to 2.3% of total farm power.
5. Outcome: Strengthens efficiency but eliminates traditional buffers.

What are the emerging risks from fossil fuel dependence in agriculture?

1. Geopolitical risk: Conflicts disrupt fertiliser and fuel supply chains.
2. Environmental stress: Chemical-intensive farming degrades soil health.
3. Energy insecurity: High import dependence increases vulnerability.
4. Farmer distress: Rising input costs reduce profitability.
5. Outcome: Creates long-term sustainability concerns.

Conclusion

India’s agricultural success is structurally tied to fossil fuel-based inputs. Future resilience requires diversification toward renewable energy, organic inputs, and reduced import dependence.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2020] “What are the main factors responsible for making rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success how has this system become bane in India?”

Linkage: It examines the input-intensive Green Revolution model and its sustainability concerns. The article shows how fossil fuel dependence has made this model vulnerable to global shocks.