Lok Sabha Question No. 2787 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-13
Subject: Promotion of Organic Fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: NISHIKANT  DUBEY, RAVINDRA KUMAR RAY

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2787

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 13 TH   MARCH, 2018

## PROMOTION OF ORGANIC FERTILIZERS

2787.   SHRI NISHIKANT DUBEY:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY:

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

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  the  use  of  chemical  fertilizers  has  shown  a  downward  trend during the last three years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to boost organic agriculture in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the amount allocated for this purpose;
- (e) whether the agriculture universities are playing an important role in promoting the use of organic fertilizers in the country; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी

(a) & (b):

(SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA) During last three years the total consumption of fertilizer are as under:

2014 - 2015  532.53 LMT 2015-2016 571.91 LMT 2016 - 2017     536.11 LMT

The consumption has declined in 2016-17 compared to 2015-16.

(c) & (d): Government  has  taken  steps  for  the  conservation,  protection  and  to  promote organic  agriculture  in  the  country  through  the  scheme  of  Parampragat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana (PKVY) which aims for sustainable agriculture production with eco-friendly process in tune with nature and to produce chemical free agricultural produce. It involves least use of inputs thereby decreasing the cost of production. It is climate change resilient to a great extent protecting soil from  degradation  and  ensuring  continued  soil  productivity  and  make  available  chemical  free inputs to the farmers. The Scheme has been implemented since 2015-16 in clusters mode of 20 hectare each. The farmer within the cluster is given financial assistance upto a maximum of 1 ha and the limit of assistance is Rs.50,000 per ha during the conversion period of 3 years. The  target  is  to  promote  10,000  clusters  covering  2  lakh  ha  over  the  period  of  3  years. Government   of   India   is   providing  assistance  to farmers  in   all   the   states   for   organic

cultivation,    certification,    labeling,  packing,  transportation  and  marketing  of  organic  produce under  the  scheme  of  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY).  In  addition,  Organic  Value Chain  Development  for  organic  products  from  production  to  marketing  is  promoted  in  North Eastern Region through Mission Organic Value Chain Development (MOVCD). The state - wise details of the funds allocated and released under the Schemes PKVY and MOVCDNER is given at Annexure - I & II.

(e) & (f): Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  through  its  Plan  Scheme  "Network Project  on  Organic  Farming"  (NPOF)  is  undertaking  research  to  develop  location  specific organic farming package of practices for crops and cropping systems. Presently, the project is being implemented in 20 centres located in 16 states. The 12th Plan allocation of the project is Rs.  1170  lakhs.  The  allocation  for  2017-18  to  2019-20  is  Rs.  548.7  Lakhs.  Organic  farming package of practices for 45 crops/cropping systems have been developed to provide technical backstopping to Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana  (PKVY) scheme being implemented in the country.

The  ICAR  alongwith  State  Agricultural  Universities  has  developed  technology  for preparation of enriched/vermi compost from various rural and urban wastes. Besides, improved and efficient strains of biofertilizers specific to different crops and soil types are being developed under Network project on Soil Biodiversity-Biofertilizers.

ICAR also imparts training, organizes FLDs etc. to educate farmers on all these aspects .

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