The Next Stage Gunvant M Desai Annual consumption of fertilisers has increased from less than 100,000 metric tons of nutrients in the early 1950s to 8.2 million metric tons (mmts) by 1984-85. The Seventh Five-Year Plan aims at raising it to 14 mmts by 1989-90. The task of accelerating growth in fertiliser consumption extends beyond the Seventh Plan period because, according to the author, virtually all further growth in crop production will have to come from continuous increases in yields and all proven yield-increasing technologies depend on high levels of fertiliser application. Thus, the author argues, the real question concerning the future is not whether but how to accelerate growth in fertiliser use and ensure its maximum effectiveness in crop production.
