Food insecurity has been a concern in India for decades; however, one often overlooked aspect – fertiliser – is a key factor in stable food production. The use of fertilisers, essential for India’s agricultural prosperity, enables the production of large amounts of rice, wheat, millet, and cash crops, all vital for the livelihoods of over 68% of Indians. Out of nearly 900 million people, about 272 million work as agricultural labourers, and demand for reliable produce continues to grow to support a rapidly expanding economy. While farmers aim to increase yields by relying on fertilisers, they face many challenges, among which is the constant price volatility in the fertiliser supply chain.
Historical trade restrictions, including an upcoming ban on speciality fertiliser exports from China, reflect some of the struggles of the past five years; however, price volatility fluctuates for a variety of reasons, from changes in phosphate mining to inaccurate supply and demand forecasts. India produces little of its own fertiliser, and its imports are not well diversified. China, for example, supplies roughly 80% of India’s fertiliser, strengthened by its dominance in phosphate refinement capacity. Due to the way the system has evolved, Indian farmers have few alternatives to change agricultural practices or try alternative fertilisers that may be more environmentally sustainable. Supply chain dependency is thus a prevalent issue that poses challenges to addressing food security and agricultural sustainability.
Furthermore, fertilisers range in price, and when farmers cannot rely on consistency in supply, they are often forced into dependence on non-environmentally friendly fertilisers. Non-water-soluble or granular fertilisers, for example, are cheaper upfront because they are more affordable per pound and are easier to store. These, however, tend to perpetuate soil denitrification and contribute to potentially harmful run-off. Nitrogen-based synthetic blends especially have been known to harm long-term soil health and require more frequent application. Some alternative speciality fertilisers, however, improve nutrient efficiency, delay denitrification, reduce water usage, and decrease the amount of fertiliser needed to boost yields. These are more expensive and have experienced the most volatility in price recently.
Making fertiliser more affordable may be an insurmountable challenge without changes in trade or innovation. Amit Gupta’s Agrifields DMCC has, however, presented new fertiliser technology, aiming, for example, at making organic fertilisers more productive by using seaweed kelp, Sapro Agro, Sapro Elixir, and Magsi. Continued success in this innovation could lead to making barren land farmable. Furthermore, Agrifields DMCC, under the guidance of long-time entrepreneur Amit Gupta, sources phosphate from Africa and the Middle East and manufactures it in the Philippines, working overtime to provide high-quality speciality fertilisers across India and beyond. Amit Gupta has reiterated the importance of diversifying supply chains while laying the groundwork for sustainable practices, saying that “bottom-up approaches will increase potential for homegrown solutions and sustainable practices, desperately needed in our agricultural landscape.” The agricultural sector belongs to farmers, whose best interests are sometimes neglected by broader systemic challenges.
Amit Gupta has expressed the need for ambitious change far beyond mere fertiliser distribution. The Agrifields Charitable Foundation, for example, a philanthropic extension of Gupta’s company, works to educate rural communities on best practices for farming. Through this, he hopes to popularise the use of water-soluble fertilisers to reduce nitrogen pollution and soil erosion, promoting long-term sustainability and crop resilience.
In light of recent global trade challenges, it is clear that India must, with the help of entrepreneurs like Amit Gupta, continue to focus on developing cutting-edge, innovative fertilisers. The model that Amit Gupta of Agrifields DMCC champions serves to forecast a hopeful future for Indian agriculture. Considering that the speciality fertiliser industry is expected to grow by 8% to $63 billion by 2035, Amit Gupta’s vision for a stronger and more independent Indian agricultural sector would necessarily help pivot India into an even stronger economic position over the next few decades. Ultimately, as India navigates a complex trade landscape and new trade constraints, it is important to invest in what is becoming known as “agricultural sovereignty”. By looking to business leaders like Amit Gupta and diverting focus from single-source imports, India can establish a more resilient agricultural future – one that safeguards the environment while enhancing the livelihoods of farmers.
Amit Gupta – Founder & CEO, Agrifields DMCC
Amit Gupta founded Agrifields DMCC in 2016 with a vision to reshape the future of rural farmers by promoting sustainability, innovation, and ethical business practices. With early experience in the shipping and export industry, Amit gained a deep understanding of the challenges faced by producers, shareholders, and consumers—an experience that shaped his values of integrity and long-term success.
Under his leadership, Agrifields DMCC has grown into a trusted name in agricultural solutions, committed to improving efficiency and sustainability across the fertilizer sector. Amit also works closely with the Agrifields Foundation and various charitable organizations to support rural farming communities globally.
Driven by a belief that farmers deserve more than survival, Amit continues to lead initiatives that bridge the gap between producers and end-users while keeping ethics and social responsibility at the core of Agrifields’ mission.
