New Delhi, April 1 -- For years, Indian farmers have struggled with declining soil fertility, while compressed biogas (CBG) plants have grappled with managing their nutrient-rich by-products. A recent amendment to the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO) aims to solve both problems by introducing a new category for organic carbon enhancers. But with several critical gaps still unaddressed, is this policy a game-changer or just a half-measure?

The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, in February 2025, issued a notification amending the existing Fertilizer (Control) Order of 1985. The amendment, titled the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) (Third) Amendment Order, 2025, introduces a new category termed "organic ca...