Lok Sabha Question No. 1067 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-22
Subject: Use of Fertilizers and Pesticide in Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: N.K. PREMACHANDRAN, YOGI ADITYANATH, PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA, DHARAMBIR BHALERAM, KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1067

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22 ND  NOVEMBER, 2016

## USE OF FERTILIZERS AND PESTICIDE IN FARMING

1067.      SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

SHRI YOGI ADITYA NATH:

SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA:

SHRI DHARAMBIR:

SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  excess  quantities  of  chemicals,  fertilizers  and pesticides  are  used  in  production  of  vegetables,  fruits  and  other  agricultural  produce  in  the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof indicating the percentage of use of pesticides in the production of foodgrains, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables etc.;
- (c) whether  regular  use  of  pesticides  is  hazardous  to  human  health  and  causes  many diseases like cancer if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether it is a fact that spraying of certain pesticides causes swelling all over the body of the of the persons spraying it and 65 percent of the toxic residue enters the body;
- (e) if so, whether the Government has conducted any study in this regard, if so, the outcome thereof; and
- (f) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  protect  the  farmers/human  beings  from  the adverse effects of these harmful pesticides/ fertilizers and promote use of bio-fertilizers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI  PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a): Pesticides are inherently toxic  in  nature  and studies  to  assess  the impact  reveals  that some chemical pesticides if used excessively at higher dosage persist in soil and water bodies (streams, rivers and ground water) and cause adverse effects.

The Urea, Diammonium Phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash(MOP), Complexes are the major    fertilizers   used   in  the  country. The overall per hectare nutrient consumption in kg are

during the year 2014-15 and 2015-16 are 127.45 and 130.66 respectively.

(b): The percentage and dose of pesticides mentioned on the label & leaflets on each and every packets.

However,  to  reduce  usage  of  chemical  pesticides  in  agriculture,  the  Government  has Launched  a  Scheme;  'Strengthening  and  Modernization  of  Pest  Management  Approach  in India'  for  disseminating  information  about  good  agricultural  practices,  promoting  use  of  biopesticides & bio-control agents and judicious use of chemical pesticides as last resort. Under the ambit of IPM programme, the Government of India has established 35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centers in 29 States and one UT (Andaman & Nicobar). These Centres are educating the farmers about various Integrated Pest Management techniques through Farmers Field Schools. Besides, the Government has taken various steps as under;

(i)  With the financial assistance of the Central Government, 38 State Bio-control Laboratories have been established across the country for production of Bio-control agents to promote the farmers for management of pests and diseases through bio-control measures.

(ii)  'Grow safe food' campaign is being run in all the States as one of the IPM programme.

- (c): Insecticides  are  toxic  substances  and  their  injudicious  use  may  pose  health  hazards. They are regulated under the Insecticides Act,  1968  and  the  rules  framed  thereunder. While registering the pesticides for use in the country under the said Act, the pesticides are evaluated for  their  safety  -  including  carcinogenicity,  i.e.  potential  to  cause  cancer  and  only  when  the pesticide is found safe in the doses and as per the practices recommended on label and leaflet, it is registered for use in the country.

(d): If pesticides approved under the Insecticides Act are used following the label directions and using proper personal protective equipment, then no such effects are observed.

(e): No study has been conducted by this Department so far in this regard.

(f): While  registering  pesticides  for  use  in  the  country,  the  doses  of  pesticides  and  its precautions are mentioned in the label and leaflets for its use by the farmers/human beings.

As  regards  the  bio-pesticides  are  concerned,  the  guidelines  for  their  registration  have been simplified to promote its uses in the country.

There is no harmful effect of chemical fertilizers on soil health and quality affecting crop productivity  with  recommended  doses  and   judicious  use.  The  Indian  Council  for  Agricultural Research (ICAR) is recommending soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management through conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic sources (Vermi compost, manure,  biofertilizers  etc.)  of  plant  nutrients  to  ensure  judicious  use  of  chemical  fertilizers preventing deterioration of soil health. The ICAR imparts training to educate farmers on these aspects.

The Council has developed improved and efficient strains of biofertilizers specific to different crops and soil types under Network project on Soil Biodiversity-Biofertilizers. Liquid Biofertilizer technology with  higher shelf-life has also been developed. Besides, the Council has  developed  technology  to   prepare  bio-enriched  compost  using  various  organic  wastes fortified  with  biofertilizers.  Biofertilizers  can  improve  crop  yields  by  10-25%  and  supplement costly   chemical  fertilizers (N,P) by nearly 20-25% in most of the cases when used along with

chemical  fertilizers.  When  bio-fertilizers  are  applied  along  with  compost  @  5t/ha  or  vermin compost @ 2t/ha, fertilizer saving is almost 50%.

All these technologies are part of integrated nutrient management practices and being popularized among the farmers through Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs), farmers trainings, publishing extension materials in local languages.

The  Government  of  India  is  implementing  Soil  Health  Management  Scheme  under National  Mission  on  Sustainable  Agriculture  (NMSA).    SHM  aims  at  promoting  Integrated Nutrient Management though judicious use of chemical fertiliser including secondary and micro nutrient in consumption with organic manure for improving soil health and its productivity.

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