Lok Sabha Question No. 2046 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-14
Subject: Drip Irrigation
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: HEMAMALINI

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2046

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  14 TH  MARCH, 2017

## DRIP IRRIGATION

2046.  SHRIMATI HEMA MALINI:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that more area can be irrigated by drip irrigation than that can be irrigated by flow irrigation, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  yield  of  various  crops  using  drip  irrigation  with  water  soluble fertilizers is higher than that of the conventional fertilizers in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the import of water soluble fertilizers during the last three years and the current year, country-wise;
- (d) the details of the Indian companies producing water soluble fertilizers; and
- (e) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  promote  drip  irrigation  and  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): Yes, Madam, More area can be irrigated by adopting drip irrigation than that by flow irrigation as the water use efficiency of drip irrigation is as high as 80-95% where as  it  is  only  30-35%  in  conventional/flow  irrigation.  There  is  upto  40%  saving  of irrigation water under drip irrigation.
- (b): Use  of  drip  irrigation  along  with  fertigation  technologies  (use  of  water  soluble fertilizers)  increases  water  and  nutrient  use  efficiency  which  results  in  higher  crop productivity.  As per report (2004) of Task force on Micro Irrigation, the yield details of various crops using drip irrigation are as under:-

| S. No   | Crop                                                    | Average Productivity, MT/ha   | Average Productivity, MT/ha   |
|---------|---------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| S. No   | Crop                                                    | Without Drip                  | With Drip                     |
| 1.      | Widely Spaced Crops suitable for Drip Irrigation        | 4.00                          | 7.50                          |
| 2.      | Closely Spaced Fruit crops suitable for Drip Irrigation | 40.00                         | 70.00                         |
| 3.      | Crops suitable for Sprinkler Irrigation                 | 2.00                          | 2.75                          |

(c): The details of import of water soluble fertilizers during the last three years and current year is given at Annexure-I.

(d): The  names  of  Indian  companies  producing  water  soluble  fertilizers  are  at Annexure-II.

(e): Government of India is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, Pradhan Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana  (PMKSY).  Promotion  of  Micro  Irrigation  (Drip  & Sprinkler  Systems)  is  an  integral  part  of  the  scheme  under  'Per  Drop  More  Crop' component.

Besides,  to  encourage  more  use  of  water  soluble  fertilizers,  seventeen  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, organizes field demonstrations to educate farmers on advantages of use of water soluble fertilizers.

Annexure-I

## Details of Import of Water Soluble Fertilizers during the last three years (2013-14, 2014-15 & 2015-16) and the Current Year (2016-17)

(in MT)

| S.   |            | YEAR    | YEAR    | YEAR    | YEAR                     |
|------|------------|---------|---------|---------|--------------------------|
| No.  | Country    | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 (till Feb, 2017) |
| 1    | China      | 46033   | 89097   | 83426   | 122390                   |
| 2    | Norway     | 19102   | 27559   | 32128   | 16810                    |
| 3    | Belgium    | 3600    | 1045    | 2056    | 3025                     |
| 4    | Israel     | 5344    | 6573    | 5715    | 8080                     |
| 5    | Chile      | 6679    | 4248    | 3754    | 6739                     |
| 6    | Jordan     | 5688    | 10502   | 7359    | 10497                    |
| 7    | Thailand   | 0       | 408     | 24      | 192                      |
| 8    | UAE        | 6332    | 5759    | 9713    | 8300                     |
| 9    | Netherland | 1008    | 408     | 552     | 1272                     |
| 10   | UK         | 36      | 0       | 0       | 0                        |
| 11   | Taiwan     | 0       | 96      | 96      | 0                        |
| 12   | Poland     | 92      | 0       | 21      | 21                       |
| 13   | Malaysia   | 75      | 0       | 0       | 0                        |
| 14   | Purtgal    | 48      | 0       | 0       | 0                        |
| 15   | Germany    | 0       | 5       | 21      | 523                      |
| 16   | Russia     | 100     | 0       | 100     | 0                        |
| 17   | Spain      | 0       | 4       | 7       | 118                      |
| 18   | S. Arabia  | 100     | 400     | 500     | 195                      |
| 19   | Italy      | 0       | 45      | 0       | 231                      |
| 20   | Turkey     | 0       | 5       | 0       | 0                        |
| 21   | USA        | 0       | 0       | 0       | 162                      |
|      | Total      | 94237   | 146154  | 145472  | 178555                   |

## Annexure-II

## Details of the Indian Companies Producing Water Soluble Fertilizers

Total Eleven Indian companies producing water soluble fertilizers are namely;

1. Coromandel International Limited, Vizag, Andhra Pradesh,
2. Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd, Vadodara, Gujarat,
3. Indian Farmers Fertilizers Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO), Kandla, Gujarat,
4. Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka,
5. Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd, Trombay, Maharashtra,
6. Zuari Agro Chemicals Limited, Goa,
7. Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemicals Corporation Limited, Taloja, Maharashtra,
8. Everest Fertilizers and Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., Rajkot, Gujarat,
9. Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd., Bharuch, Gujarat,
10. Positive Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. Rajkot, Gujarat,
11. Sunshine International Agritech, Theni, Tamilnadu.

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