Lok Sabha Question No. 354 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-20
Subject: Organic Fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: VIKRAM USENDI

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

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 354

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH  MARCH, 2018

## ORGANIC FERTILIZERS

- *354.     SHRI VIKRAM USENDI:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the organic fertilizers used in agriculture;
- (b) whether  organic  fertilizers  have  proved  to  be  effective  scientifically  in  agriculture and if so, the  details thereof along with the details of the benefits of organic fertilizers in comparison to inorganic fertilizers;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  various  organic  fertilizers  are  sold  in  the market  at  higher  rates  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  steps  taken  to check/control its prices; and
- (d) the various measures taken by the Government to produce organic fertilizers in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण

- (a) to (d):

½ãâ¨ããè (SHRI RADHA MOHAN SINGH) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.  354   DUE FOR REPLY ON 20 TH  MARCH, 2018.

- (a): Various types of organic fertilizers used  in agriculture are  City  Compost, Vermicompost,  Phosphate  Rich  Organic  Manure  (PROM),  Organic  manures,  Bone  meal, Steamed bone meal, De-oiled cake/ Caster- oiled Cake.
- (b):          Organic fertilizers  are  the  source  of organic  carbon besides nutrients. The organic carbon content is vital for maintaining and enhancing soil fertility. In order to enhance the efficacy of chemical fertilizers and for improving crop response to the applied fertilizers, use of  organic  fertilizers  is  required.  Government  is  recommending  soil  test  based  integrated nutrient management through conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic sources of plant nutrients.  Organic fertilizers have been tested scientifically in ICAR institutions and SAUs on various crops and soil types and found suitable for improving soil health and productivity. These organic fertilizers presently available may supplement costly chemical fertilizers (N,P) by nearly 20-25%. Biofertlizers when applied along with compost @ 5t/ha, or vermicompost @2t/ha, fertilizers saving is almost 50%.

The  advantages of these organic fertilizers over chemical/ inorganic fertilizers are (i) they are eco friendly and (ii) not only provide nutrients for maintaining soil fertility but also improve soil physical & biological health.

- (c):     No such reports have been brought to notice to the Government .The Government of India is not regulating the price of organic fertilizers.  Its prices are determined by market forces.
- (d):       Government is promoting organic fertilizers/ biofertilizers through various schemes of National Mission of Sustainable Development (NMSA)/ Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and supported by Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and National Mission on Oilseeds and  Oil  Palm  (NMOOP),  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM)  and  Indian  Council  of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The pattern of assistance is given in Annexure-I.

## A. National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)-Organic & INM Components of Soil Health Management (SHM):

1. Setting  up  of  State  of  art  liquid/  carrier  based  Biofertilizer/  Biopesticide units, 100%  assistance  to  State  Govt/Govt.  Agencies  upto  a  maximum  limit  of  Rs.160.00 lakh  /unit  and  25%  of cost  limited  to  Rs.40  lakh/unit  for  individuals/  private  agencies through  NABARD  as  capital investment of 200 TPA production capacity.
2. Setting up of Bio-fertilizer and Organic fertilizer testing Quality Control Laboratory (BOQCL) or Strengthening of existing  Laboratory under FCO, assistance  up to  maximum  limit  of  Rs.  85  lakh  for new laboratory and up to a maximum limit of Rs. 45  lakh  for  strengthening  of  existing  infrastructure  to  State  Government  Laboratory under  Agriculture  or Horticulture Department.
3. Promotion  of  Organic  Inputs  on  farmer's  field  (Manure,  Vermi-compost,  BioFertilizers Liquid /  solid, Waste compost,  Herbal extracts etc.), 50 % of cost subject to a limit of Rs. 5000/- per ha and Rs. 10,000 per beneficiary. Propose to cover 1 million  ha area.
4. Setting up of mechanized Fruit/ Vegetable market waste/ Agro waste compost production unit 100% financial assistance to State Government/ Government Agencies upto  a  maximum  limit  of  Rs.190.00  lakh  per  unit  and  33%  of  project  cost  maximum limited  to  Rs.63  lakh  per  unit  for  individuals/private  agencies  through  NABARD  as capital investment for establishment of agro/vegetable waste compost production units of 3000 Total Per Annum (TPA) production
- B. Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY):  It  is  the  first  comprehensive scheme  launched  by  the  Central  Government  as  a  centrally  sponsored  programme (CSP). The scheme is implemented by the State Governments on a cluster basis 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 5 lakh acres over the  period  of  3  years,  2015-16  to  2017-18.  Further,  following  assistance  is  given  for procuring liquid bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticides:

1. Liquid Bio-fertilizer consortia (Nitrogen fixing/ Phosphate Solubilizing/ potassium mobilizing bio-fertilizer) @ Rs.500/acre x 50 of Rs.25000 per cluster in first year.
2. Liquid Biopesticides (Trichoderma viridae, Pseudomonas, fluorescens, Matarhizium, Beaviourie bassiana, Pacelomyces, verticillium) @ Rs.500/ acre x 50 of Rs.25000 per cluster in second year.
3. Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM) as per specification given in FCO,1985 @Rs1000/acreX50  of Rs 50000  in first year for procuring and application of PROM.
4. Vermicompost (size 7'x3'x1) @ Rs 5000/unit X50 of Rs 2,50,000 will be assisted for  procurement  of  earthworms,  preparation  of  pits,  etc  for  construction  of  vermi composting pits.

## C.  Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

Vermicompost Units/ Organic input production - 50% of cost conforming to the size of the unit of 30'X8'X2.5' dimension of permanent structure to be administered on prorata  basis.  For  HDPE  Vermibed,  50%  of  cost  conforming  to  the  size  of  96  cft (12'X4'X2')  and IS  15907:2010 to be administered on pro-rata basis (Rs. 100,000/ unit for permanent structure and Rs. 16,000/unit for HDPE Vermibed).

- D.  National  Mission  on  Oilseeds  and  Oil  Palm  (NMOOP):  Financial  assistance@ 50%  subsidy  to  the  tune  of  Rs.  300/-  per  ha  is  being  provided  for  different components including bio-fertilisers, Supply of Rhizobium culture/Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB)/ Zinc Solubilising Bacteria (ZSB)/ Azatobacter/ Mycorrhiza and vermi compost.
- E.  National Food Security Mission (NFSM): Under NFSMPulses, financial assistance is being provided for promotion of Bio-Fertilizer (Rhizobium/PSB) @50% of the cost limited to Rs.300 per ha.

Under Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India( BGREI) ,a sub scheme of RKVY, also supplied bio-fertilizer @50% of the cost limited to Rs. 300 per ha for Rice and Wheat crops.

- F.  Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY): Organic Farming project components are considered by the respective State Level Sanctioning committee according to their priority choice.

- G. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): The Indian Council of Agricultural  Research  (ICAR),  is  implementing  under  Network  project  on  'Soil Biodiversity-Biofertiliser' and developed improved and efficient strains of biofertiliser specific to different crops and soil types.

In  order  to  promote  use  of organic manures in the country,  the council has developed  technologies  to  prepare  various  types  of  organic  manures  such  as phosphocompost,  vermincompost,  bio-enriched  compost,  municipal  solid  waste compost,  etc.  from  various  organic  wastes.  These  organic  manures  have  been tested on different soils using various crops and found useful in improving soil health and  crop  productivity.  All  these  technologies  are  being  popularized  among  the farmers  through  Front  Line  Demonstrations  (FLDs),  farmer's  trainings,  publishing extension materials in local languages.

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