Concerns Raised Over Impact of High Fertilizer Prices on Global Agricultural Production

10-Jul-2026 04:32 PM

New Delhi. High prices for chemical fertilizers are likely to lead to reduced usage across many countries, potentially adversely affecting agricultural production.

Experts note that, with the exception of China, most nations are facing significant difficulties due to this situation. In India, substantial funds are allocated for fertilizer subsidies; while this safeguards farmers' interests, it places considerable strain on the public exchequer. In countries lacking such subsidy systems, farmers are compelled to purchase fertilizers at exorbitant prices.

Poor farmers are unable to bear the burden of expensive fertilizers and will be forced to cut back on usage, inevitably leading to a decline in crop yields and overall production. The ongoing crisis in West Asia threatens to disrupt the import and export of fertilizers. Farmers in the less developed nations of Asia, Africa, and Latin America are deeply concerned about the fertilizer situation.

A drop in agricultural output in these regions would necessitate increased imports of food grains, edible oils, and other essential commodities from abroad. Additionally, the El Niño weather pattern is expected to pose challenges for certain countries. Prices of rice, wheat, maize, sugar, pulses, and edible oils may fluctuate during the remaining months of the 2026-27 marketing season.