The policy of mandatory production and distribution of Neem Coated Urea (NCU) was implemented by the Government of India since 2015. In this article, authors have made an attempt to explore the benefits of NCU recognized by the producers of six major crops such as paddy, maize, sugarcane, tur, jute and soybean across six major states viz., Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Assam. The results reveal that NCU use has contributed positively in terms of increasing the yield levels of main product and by-products, as well as net returns with regard to almost all reference crops however; the extent varies from crop to crop. Moreover, NCU has helped reduce the cost of production by minimizing the cost of urea as well as other fertilizers and pesticides usage. Interestingly, the diversion of urea has stopped completely, post the production and distribution of NCU. Hence, it is concluded that the application of NCU has a positive impact on Indian agriculture, by way of increasing yield levels & returns for the farming community. These results are in line with the PM's vision of doubling farmers’ income by 2022 and Sustainable Development Goals of the Country.

The overall objective of the study is to understand the awareness of mandatory production and distribution of Neem Coated Urea (NCU), trends in chemical fertilizer consumption (NKP) and their relation to food grain production across different periods of time and policies. An effort has also been made to understand the association between fertilizer consumption and productivity with respect to fertilizer-intensive crops. Finally, it was attempted to identify the important determinants of fertilizer consumption. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) was calculated for analysing the trends in fertilizer consumption and food grain production in India. Further, the growth rates per hectare consumption of fertilizers vis-à-vis the growth rates of yield of fertilizer-intensive crops are calculated. Multiple regression model is applied to identify factor influencing fertilizer consumption. The study has uncovered that the general development pace of chemical fertilizer consumption in India for the period-I, was 5.58%, has diminished to 3.24% per annum for the period-II. By 2030, the fertilizer demand is projected to be around 57 million tons and is expected to grow at a faster rate, thereafter. Study focused on NCU policy of the government. The awareness level is 70 to100% in Karnataka, Bihar, Assam, Punjab Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. At aggregate level, 85% of farmers noticed the difference between (NCU) and (NU) by reflecting the mandatory production and distribution of Neem Coated Urea (NCU) policy is in the right direction, considering the benefits realized by the Indian farming community.

The policy of mandatory production and distribution of Neem Coated Urea (NCU) from May 2015, with a focussed attention on improving the soil quality through a judicious use of fertilizers seems to be in the right direction, considering the benefits realized so far by the Indian farming community. In this article, authors have made an attempt to explore the benefits recognized by the producers of six major crops such as paddy, maize, sugarcane, tur, jute and soybean across the six major states viz., Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Assam with 2200 sample households. The reference period of the study was the immediate season (Kharif 2015) post the NCU production. The results reveal that NCU use has contributed positively in terms of increasing the yield levels of both main product and by-products with regard to almost all the reference crops under study. However, the extent varies from crop to crop, highest being in the case of soybean, followed by tur, maize, sugarcane, paddy and jute. While the net returns are highest in respect of tur, followed by paddy. As regards B:C ratio, tur tops the list subsequent to sugarcane, paddy, soybean, maize and jute. Moreover, NCU has helped reduce the cost of production by minimizing the cost of urea as well as of other fertilizers and pesticides usage. Interestingly, the diversion of urea has stopped completely, post the production and distribution of NCU. Hence, it is concluded that the application of NCU has a positive impact on Indian agriculture, by way of increasing yield levels & returns for the farming community. These results are in line with the PM's vision of doubling farmers’ income by 2022 and Sustainable Development Goals of the Country.