India is the third largest producer and consumer of fertilizers in the world, after China and USA.  It accounts for 12.2% of the world's production of nitrogenous (N) and phosphatic (P) nutrients and 12.6% of the world's consumption of NP & K (Potash) nutrients. However, India's consumption of nutrients per hectare (112.3 kg/ha of arable land in 2006-07) was marginally above the world average of 101 kg/ha (2004-05) and lower than consumption of these nutrients by most of the developing countries, including neighbouring countries like China (277.7kg/ha), Bangladesh (177.5kg/ha), Sri Lanka (310.3 kg/ha) and Pakistan (138.9 kg/ha).