Lok Sabha Question No. 952 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-22
Subject: Use of Bio Fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: ALOK SANJAR, KINJARAPU RAM MOHAN NAIDU

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 952

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22 ND  NOVEMBER, 2016

## USE OF BIO FERTILIZERS

952.   SHRI ALOK SANJAR: SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

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

- (a) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote  the  production  and  sale  of  organic fertilizers in the country;
- (b) the  targets  set  by  the  Government for this  purpose  under various  schemes  during  the 12th Five Year Plan period;
- (c) the  percentage  of  organic  fertilizers  provided  to  farmers  as  compared  to  the  total fertilizer used in the country;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to increase the production of organic fertilizers in the country and if so, the details of major crops produced by using bio fertilizer in comparison to chemical fertilizers in the country during the last one year; and
- (e) the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  encourage/popularize production of organic fertilizers on small scales using organic waste generated on farms and in homes for use or sale?

## 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) to (e): Government  is  encouraging  the  use  of  organic/bio  fertilizer  through  various schemes/programmes viz: National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)/Paramparagat Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY),  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY),  Mission  for  Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Mission on Oilseeds & Oil Palm (NMOOP) and Network Project  on  Organic  Farming  of  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  .The pattern  of  assistance  provided  to  State  governments  through  various  schemes  for  promoting use of organic/bio fertilizer is given at Annexure.

The  total  consumption  of  organic  fertilizer  is  2548.80  lakh  tons  and  that  of  chemical fertilizer is 557.88 lakh tons. If both are pooled the amount comes 3106.68 lakh tons, indicating that around 80.04% of the bulk is organic fertilizer. However, nutrient wise organic fertilizers are Continue…2/-

low  nutrient  containing  material  compared  with  fertilizers  so  that  percentage  contribution  of organic fertilizer in terms of actual usage is substantially lower than fertilizers.

The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  developed  improved  and efficient  strains  of  biofertilizers  namely  Rhizobium,  Azotobacter  ,  Azospirillum,  Acetobacter, Phosphate  Solubilizing Microorganism,  Potash  Solubilizing Bacteria , Zinc Solubilizing Bacteria  specific to different crops ( in leguminous and non-leguminous crops) and soil types under ICAR -  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 biofertilizers  are  applied  along  with  compost  @  5t/ha  or  vermin-compost  @  2t/ha,  fertilizer saving is almost 50%.

Ministry  of  New  &  Renewable  Energy  is  implementing  a  scheme  namely,  National Biogas  and  Manure  Management  Programme  (NBMMP)  using  cow  dung,  kitchen  waste material etc., as mix feed to produce Biogas for cooking gas and organic enriched bio manure through  the  implementing  Agencies  such  as  State  Nodal  Departments/State  Nodal  Agencies and  Khadi  &  Village  Industries  Commission  and  Biogas  Development  and  Training  Centers (BDTCs).

The  National  Centre  of  Organic  Farming  (NCOF),  Ghaziabad,  a  unit  under  the department undertakes various extension and publicity activities like exhibitions, radio talks, TV programmes,  distribution  of  literature  on  organic  inputs/  organic  farming  etc.  to  educate  the farmers.  NCOF  is  also  publishing  biannual  Newsletter  'Biofertilizers'  as  well  as  quarterly Newsletter called  Organic  Farming.  In  addition,  various  books  on  production  and  use  of  biofertilizers have been published in various languages for distribution to the farming community. Radio jingles on organic agriculture are broadcasted on 4 different FM Radio Stations including Delhi, Bangalore, Nagpur and Lucknow. NCOF organizes 30 days certificate course on organic farming for skill development in organic agriculture sector for youth. It also conducts 10 days Refresher course for analysts under Fertilizer Control Order (FCO); 5 Days Trainers Training & 2 Days training for field functionaries and extension staff of the State Government. NCOF has also  been  organizing  Farmers'  Training  and  Field  Demonstration  (FTFD)  programmes  on organic  farming  since  2015-16  in  various  villages      under  'Sansad  Aadarsh  Gram  Yojana' (SAGY), through its Regional Centres of Organic Farming (RCOFs). It has completed 300 no. of FTFD in 2015-16 and has targeted 296 no. in the year 2016-17.

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

- i) 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 total financial outlay or limited toRs.40 lakh/unit  whichever is less for individuals/ private agencies through NABARD as back ended capital investment subsidy scheme of 200  Total Per Annum (TPA) production capacity.
2. ii) Setting  up  of  Bio-fertilizer  and  Organic  fertilizer  testing  Quality  Control  Laboratory (BOQCL) or Strengthening of existing Laboratory under FCO, assistance upto maximum limit of Rs.85  lakh  for  new  laboratory  and  upto  a  maximum  limit  of  Rs.45  lakh  for  strengthening  of existing  infrastructure  to  State  Government  Laboratory  under  Agriculture  or  Horticulture Department.
3. iii) Promotion  of  Organic  Inputs  on  farmer's  field  (Manure,  Vermi-compost,  Bio-Fertilizers 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.
4. iv) 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 or maximum limited to Rs.63 lakh per unit  whichever is less 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
- v) Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): The scheme is implemented by the State Governments  on  a  cluster  basis  of  20  hectare  each.  The  farmer  within  the  cluster  is  given following financial assistance for Integrated Manure Management.
- a)  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.
- b)  Liquid Biopesticides (Trichodermaviridae, Pseudomonas,  fluorescens, Matarhizium, Beaviouriebassiana,  Pacelomyces,  verticillium)  @  Rs.500/  acre  x  50  of  Rs.25000  per cluster in second year.
- c)  Phosphate  Rich  Organic  Manure  (PROM)  as  per  specification  given  in  FCO,1985  @ Rs1000/acre X 50  of Rs   50000  in first year for procuring and application of PROM.
- d)  Farmer can take up any pest control mechanism easily available in their local area @Rs 500/acreX50 of Rs.25000 in second year.
- e)    Vermicompost  (  size  7'x3'x1)  @  Rs  5000/unit  X50  of  Rs  250000  will  be  assisted  for procurement of earthworms, preparation of pits, etc for construction of vermi composting pits.

The detail guidelines are uploaded in web site www.agricoop.gov.in

A National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP): Financial assistance is being provided  for different  type  of  components  including  bio-fertilisers,  Supply  of  Rhizobium culture/Phosphate  Solubilising  Bacteria  (PSB)/  Zinc  Solubilising  Bacteria  (ZSB)/  Azatobacter/ Mycorrhiza and vermi compost.

B. National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM):  Under  NFSM,  financial  assistance  is provided for promotion of Bio-Fertilizer (Rhizobium/PSB) @50% of the cost limited to Rs.300 per ha.

C. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY): Organic Farming projects are considered by respective State Level Sanctioning committee

D. Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR):  The  Indian  Council  of  Agriculture Research (ICAR), Pusa under Network project on Soil Biodiversity-Biofertiliser has developed improved  and  efficient  strains  of  biofertiliser  specific  to  different  crops  and  soil  types.  Liquid Biofertiliser technology with higher shelf life has also been developed. The ICAR also imparts training, organizes Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) to educate farmers on all these aspect..

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