Lok Sabha Question No. 7 (STARRED), answered on 2018-12-11
Subject: Impact of Pesticides and Fertilizers on Soil Fertility
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN

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

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 7

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## IMPACT OF PESTICIDES AND FERTILIZERS ON SOIL FERTILITY

- *7.    SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN:

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 excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers is adversely affecting the fertility of agricultural land in several States of the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it  is  also  true  that  about  75  per  cent  arable  land  in  the  country  is  adversely affected by excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and that the level of toxin is high;
- (c) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
- (d) the remedial steps taken by the Government for safe and judicious application of crop protecting chemicals and green chemistry; and
- (e) the  action  taken  or  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  detoxify  poisoned farmlands in the country within a time-frame?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI RADHA MOHAN SINGH)

- (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 7   DUE FOR REPLY ON 11 TH  DECEMBER, 2018.

(a) to (c): The use of fertilizers and pesticides beyond the permissible limit is likely to affect the soil fertility of the agricultural land. However, no specific data is available with  this  Department  regarding  agricultural  land  affected  due  to  excessive  use  of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

(d) to (e): The  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  and  Farmers  Welfare  has established  35  Central  Integrated  Pest  Management  Centres  (CIPMCs)  across  the Country. These CIPMCs, inter alia, conduct Farmers Field Schools (FFSs) to sensitize farmers on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, and safe and judicious use of chemical pesticides as a last resort as per approved labels and leaflets. In the last three years, a total of 2043 FFSs have been organized for sensitizing farmers.

In addition, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare has established National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM) as an autonomous body.  The  National  Institute  of  Plant  Health  Management  is  mandated  to  promote environmentally sustainable Plant Health Management  practices in diverse and changing  agro-climatic  conditions,  Bio  security  &  Incursion  Management  through capacity building programmes for farmers and State Agriculture/Extension functionaries. Regular  advisories  on  pest  management  are  being  shared  with  the  States  for  their timely  dissemination  to  the  farmers  through  their  extension  functionaries.  The  State Governments  through  various  forums  such  as  Zonal  Conferences  and  National Conference are requested to exhort their extension functionaries to educate and impart training  to  farmers  on  efficacious  and  sustainable  pest  management  strategies  and approaches.

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Furthermore, the Department is implementing 'Soil Health Management' (SHM) 'Soil  Health  Card',  'Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana'  (PKVY)  and  'Mission  Organic Value  Chain  Development  for  North  Eastern  Region'  (MOVCDNER)  Schemes  to improve soil  fertility.  Under  the  Soil  Health  Management  Scheme,  Integrated  Nutrient Management  (INM)  is  being  promoted,  inter  alia,  through  capacity  development programmes  for  farmers,  extension  functionaries  and  soil  testing  laboratory  staff.  In addition, Soil Health Card are being provided to all the farmers in the country. These health card provide information on nutrient status of soil and recommends appropriate dosages. Under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain  Development  for  North  Eastern  Region  (MOVCDNER),  organic  farming  is promoted  with  an  aim  to  develop  sustainable  models  of  farming  through  a  mix  of traditional  wisdom  and  modern  science  to  ensure,  inter  alia,  long  term  soil  fertility buildup, incentivizing production of Bio-fertilizers and resource conservation. In addition, a  Central  Government  scheme  called  Gobardhan  Yojana  has  also  been  launched focusing on managing and converting cattle dung and solid waste from farms and fields to useful compost for, inter alia, improving soil fertility.

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