New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Budget Session on Monday, March 23, 2026, focusing on the potential impact of the escalating Israel-Iran conflict on Indian agriculture. Amid global supply chain disruptions caused by the war—which intensified following the joint US-Israel strike on Iran on February 28—the Prime Minister assured the nation that India’s food security remains robust. He emphasized that the country’s grain silos are full thanks to the hard work of domestic farmers and that the government is fully prepared for the upcoming Kharif sowing season.
A central theme of the Prime Minister’s address was shielding farmers from the volatile global market. Recalling the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, he noted that while international urea prices surged to ₹3,000 per bag, the Indian government ensured it remained available to local farmers for less than ₹300. To prevent a repeat of such dependency, PM Modi highlighted that six new urea plants have been commissioned over the last decade, boosting annual production capacity by 7.6 million metric tonnes. Additionally, the domestic production of DAP and NPK fertilizers has seen an increase of 50 lakh metric tonnes, reducing the “burden of global crises” on the Indian peasantry.
Strategic Initiatives for Agricultural Resilience:
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Diversified Imports: Much like the strategy for oil and gas, India has diversified its fertilizer import sources to bypass regional blockades in the Gulf.
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Nano Urea: The government is aggressively promoting “Made in India” Nano Urea as a high-efficiency alternative to traditional fertilizers.
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Energy Independence: Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, over 22 lakh solar pumps have been distributed, significantly reducing farmers’ reliance on expensive diesel, which has seen price hikes due to the conflict.
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Natural Farming: There is a renewed push toward natural farming to decrease the overall chemical footprint and import dependency.
The Prime Minister’s remarks come at a time of extreme geopolitical volatility. Following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in the February 28 strike, the conflict has spread across the Gulf region, threatening maritime energy and trade routes. By detailing these proactive measures, PM Modi sought to provide a “guarantee of stability” to the agricultural sector, promising that the Central Government will provide every possible assistance to ensure that the “annadata” (food provider) does not suffer due to external wars.
