Yara India’s 15-year journey

When Yara entered India in 2011, its ambition was to help farmers improve productivity while using resources more efficiently. Building on its expertise in crop nutrition, Yara worked with farmers to better understand crop needs and make more informed decisions about fertilizer use, combining products with agronomic knowledge and more precise approaches to crop nutrition.

The introduction of calcium nitrate was an early milestone, laying the foundation for Yara’s presence in India’s specialty crop nutrition market. However, products were only part of the approach. From the beginning, Yara also invested in on-the-ground advisory services, working directly with farmers through field demonstrations, training sessions, and knowledge-sharing.

This combination of crop nutrition and agronomic knowledge became a foundation for Yara India’s growth.

From eight employees to a nationwide presence

Yara India began with just eight employees. Today, more than 800 colleagues work across the organization, with a presence in 15 states.

“Fifteen years ago, we started with a small team and a clear ambition to bring better crop nutrition to Indian farmers. Since then, we have grown significantly, but the importance of working closely with farmers has not changed. Our role today is about combining our products and expertise with the knowledge and needs of farmers across the country,” says Sanjiv Kanwar, Country Manager of Yara India. 

As Yara India has expanded, so has its network on the ground. Yara Crop Nutrition Centres and retail partners have helped bring products, agronomic advice, and support closer to farming communities, with more than 1,150 outlets across more than 6,500 villages.

Today, more than 1.5 million farmers engage with Yara India each year. Digital platforms have extended that reach further. The Yara Farmcare app has been downloaded more than 12 million times, while more than 20,000 retailers have joined Yara Connect. Solutions are available in eight languages, reflecting the diversity of India’s agricultural landscape.

Knowledge remains central to this network. Last year alone, Yara India conducted more than 71,000 farmer meetings, trainings, and crop seminars. More than 1,200 Knowledge Grow Farms also gave farmers the opportunity to see crop nutrition practices demonstrated under local conditions.

Putting knowledge into practice

For Yara India, agronomic knowledge is most valuable when it translates into practical results in the field.

At Harmony Hall Orchards in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, century-old apple orchards managed by Vijay K. Stokes are being rejuvenated through modern cultivars, dwarf rootstocks, and a more science-based approach to crop management and nutrition. 

“For me, the real progress began when I realized we need science to improve not just how much we grow, but how well we grow it,” says Vijay K Stokes.

Yara has supported the orchard with a more precise approach to nutrition, helping focus on fruit quality and efficient nutrient use. Today, Harmony Hall Orchards uses Yara’s recommended nutrition products each season and is preparing to transition to fertigation, with the aim of improving nutrient and water efficiency while reducing labor requirements.

Growing through partnerships

Yara India’s expansion has also been shaped by collaboration across the agricultural ecosystem.

Its network of retailers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and other partners help bring products, knowledge, and support closer to farmers. Over the years, Yara India has engaged with more than 200 FPOs, helping extend its reach to over 120,000 farmers across more than 12 states, including 15 women-led FPOs.

Digital platforms complement these local relationships, giving farmers and retailers access to information, guidance, and support alongside the face-to-face engagement that remains central to Yara’s approach.

Another defining milestone came in 2018, when Yara acquired Tata Chemicals’ urea business. The acquisition included the manufacturing facility in Babrala, Uttar Pradesh, and represented the nation’s first and largest-ever foreign direct investment in the regulated fertilizer sector. It significantly strengthened Yara’s local manufacturing presence and reinforced the company’s long-term commitment to Indian agriculture.

Looking ahead

Fifteen years after entering India, Yara has grown from a small crop nutrition team into a nationwide agricultural organization. Its work today spans products, agronomic expertise, digital solutions, manufacturing, and partnerships, with a network that reaches farmers across the country.

The next phase will build on that foundation. Yara India will continue to strengthen partnerships, expand access to agronomic knowledge, and support farmers in improving productivity and crop quality while using resources more efficiently. 

India’s agricultural sector will continue to evolve, shaped by changing farmer needs, technology, climate pressures, and growing need for more efficient and sustainable food production. Yara India’s role will evolve with it - supporting a more productive, sustainable, and resilient food system.