India’s agribusiness has always had two unpredictable masters: the sky above, and the seas below. But this year, while farmers keep one eye on the monsoon clouds, the market is keeping the other on a choke point more than 2,000 kilometres away. For an industry used to praying for rain, praying for peace in the Strait of Hormuz is a fresh headache nobody wanted.
India's fertiliser supplies are under pressure after disruptions to shipping routes due to the West Asia war, raising concerns about lower farm produce and higher food prices. The crisis exposes India's heavy dependence on foreign agricultural inputs. As the world's second-largest fertiliser user, India relies on the Gulf for raw materials and finished products. Most of these vital shipments must pass directly through the volatile Strait of Hormuz.
