Urea import by China and its implications for India

India and China have been-major importers of urea in the recent times. China has embarked on attaining self-sufficiency in urea production. They consider this strategy crucial for attaining self-sufficiency: in grain production, This is also part olf their modernisation plan of the domestic fertiliser industry. This article (which is a sequel to another special article published in January 9, 1999 issue of the EPW entitled 'New Fertiliser Policy: A Practical Approach') studies the Chinese policy and its implications for the policy of India on expanding the domestic production capacity. The paper calls for a rational approach to the issue of domestic production after taking a considered view on the various aspects related to it.