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Coal-Based Urea: Fuelling Food Security
Coal-based urea is produced by converting coal into syngas through high-efficiency gasification using oxygen and steam, yielding hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The hydrogen is then used to synthesize ammonia, which reacts with CO₂ to produce urea — a critical nitrogen fertilizer.
For coal-rich nations like India and China, this process offers a strategic alternative to natural gas, reducing import dependency and stabilizing production costs. India’s landmark Talcher Fertilizers Project — a joint venture of CIL, GAIL, RCF, and FCIL — is designed to produce 1.27 MMTPA of Neem-coated urea using domestic coal, with completion projected around December 2027.
Beyond economics, coal-based urea ensures a reliable, non-volatile feedstock supply, directly supporting national food security. While carbon emissions remain a concern, advancing clean coal and gasification technologies are progressively improving the environmental profile of this process, making it a viable long-term solution for fertilizer self-sufficiency.
Namo Drone Didi — When Rural Women Take Flight
Imagine a woman from a small village, operating a drone over farmland — spraying fertilizers with precision, earning a steady income, and transforming how farming works in her community. That’s exactly what the Drone Didi Scheme is making possible across India.
The Government of India has set aside ₹1,261 crore to put 15,000 drones in the hands of Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) — the same grassroots groups that have quietly been building financial independence for rural women across the country.
Who can join? Any woman above 18 years, with a Class 10 pass certificate, enrolled in a DAY-NRLM registered SHG. That’s it.
What does it cost her? Very little. The government covers 80% of the drone cost — up to ₹8 lakh — and the remaining amount can be borrowed at just 3% interest. The 15-day training covering drone flying and crop spraying? Completely free.
For farmers, it means healthier crops, smarter use of fertilizers and pesticides, and lower costs. For the women operating these drones, it means a real business and a real income.
One drone. One woman. Endless possibilities.
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