Lok Sabha Question No. 3616 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: Drip Irrigation with Water Soluble Fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3616

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  8 TH  AUGUST, 2017

## DRIP IRRIGATION WITH WATER SOLUBLE FERTILIZERS

3616.  SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

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

- (a) the  extent  to  which  the  Government  has  encouraged  farmers  to  adopt  drip irrigation  with  water  soluble  fertilizers  in  place  of  flow  irrigation  with  conventional fertilizers along with the achievements thereof;
- (b) whether  the  yield  of  various  crops  using  drip  irrigation  with  water  soluble fertilizers is higher than the conventional fertilizers in the country;
- (c) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  demand  and  supply  of  water  soluble fertilizers in the country as on date, State-wise;
- (d) whether the import of the water soluble fertilizers have increased in the country during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (e) if so, the details thereof, country-wise along with the names of Indian companies producing water soluble fertilizers in the country, company-wise; and
- (f) the  other  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote  indigenous production of the water soluble fertilizers in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान  कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã  ½ãñâ  Àã·¾ã  ½ãâ¨ããè (  SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a): Government of India is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). Micro Irrigation (Drip & Sprinkler Systems) is promoted under the 'Per Drop More Crop' component of PMKSY. The Drip irrigation system includes fertigation attachments for application of liquid fertilizer. So far an area of about 33.82 lakh ha. has been covered under Drip Irrigation in the country.

(b): Use  of  drip  irrigation  along  with  fertigation  technology  (use  of  water  soluble fertilizers)  increases  water  and  nutrient  use  efficiency  which  results  in  higher  crop productivity. As per the impact evaluation study on Micro Irrigation (2014), increase in the yield of various crops is given below:-

| S.No.   | Crop       | Average Productivity, MT/Ha   | Average Productivity, MT/Ha   |
|---------|------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
|         |            | Without Drip                  | With Drip                     |
| 1.      | Fruits     | 13.52                         | 19.25                         |
| 2.      | Vegetables | 11.40                         | 17.41                         |

(c) to (e): To  meet  the  supply  requirement  beyond  domestic  production,  liquid fertilizer  is  imported  which  is  given  at  Annexure-I.  the  names  of  Indian  companies producing water soluble fertilizers are at Annexure-II.

(f): To  encourage  more  use  of  water  soluble  fertilizers,  water  soluble  complex fertilizers  have  been  incorporated  in  the  Fertilizer  (Control)  Order,  1985.  The  general specifications  of  100%  water  soluble  mixture  of  fertilizers  have  also  been  specified under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985. Besides this, the Indian Council of agricultural Research (ICAR) imparts training, organizers field demonstrations to educate farmers on advantages of use of water soluble fertilizers.

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