Lok Sabha Question No. 1634 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-02
Subject: Use of Fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Sumedhanand Saraswati

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

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1634 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  JULY, 2019

## USE OF FERTILIZERS

1634.    SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that excessive use of chemical fertilizers destroys the soil fertility and it also causes various kinds of diseases and other problems;
- (b) if so, the steps taken to curb this practice along with the details thereof;
- (c) whether the farmers are being made aware of use of organic fertilizers in place of chemical fertilizers;
- (d) whether the Government has launched any programmes to raise awareness among the farmers regarding the need of organic farming to reduce the effects of imbalanced use of fertilizers and benefits of organic farming; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

- कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)
- (a): Yes, excessive use of chemical fertilizers destroys the soil fertility and also causes other problems.
- (b): To curb the practice of excessive use of chemical fertilizers, the following steps have been taken:
- (i) Soil  Health  Card  Scheme  has  been  introduced  in  year  2014-15  to  assist  State Governments  to  issue  soil  health  cards  to  all  farmers  in  the  country.  Soil  health cards      provide  information  to  farmers  on  nutrient  status  of  their  soil  along  with recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and fertility.  Soil  status  is  assessed  regularly  every  2  years  so  that  nutrient deficiencies are identified and corrective steps taken.

- (ii) Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research(ICAR)  is  recommending  soil  test  based balanced  and  integrated  nutrient  management  through  conjunctive  use  of  both inorganic and organic sources (manure, bio-fertilizers, green manuring, in-situ crop residue recycling etc.) of plant nutrients with 4Rs approach i.e right quantity, right time, right mode and right type of fertilizer to reduce use of chemical fertilizers to improve  soil  health  and  fertility.  In  addition,  split  application  and  placement  of fertilizers, use  of slow  releasing fertilizers  including  neem  coated  urea  and nitrification inhibitors, growing leguminous crops, and use of Resource Conservation Technologies (RCTs) are also advocated.
- (iii) The  Government  is  focusing  on  creating  awareness  and  educating  the  farmers about  organic  farming  practices  under  the  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) schemes in the areas where clusters are formed.

(c) to (e): The following programme / activities are undertaken to make farmers aware of use of organic fertilizers:

(i) Government  is  recommending  soil  test  based  balanced  and  integrated  nutrient management  through  conjunctive  use  of  inorganic  and  organic  sources  of  plant  nutrient management to sustain good soil health.

(ii) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) imparts training, organizes front line demonstrations to educate farmers on this aspect.

(iii) Under  the  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)  and  Mission  Organic  Value Chain  Development  for  North  Eastern  Region  (MOVCDNER)  schemes,  extension  and publicity activities on organic farming practices are undertaken through print and electronic media.

(iv) 30 days certificate course on organic farming, Farmers' Training and Field Demonstration  (FTFD)  programmes  have  been  conducted  since  2015-16  under  'Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana' (SAGY).

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