Lok Sabha Question No. 23 (STARRED), answered on 2019-11-19
Subject: Promotion of Bio-Fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dharambir Singh, Shardaben Anilbhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 23

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE   19 TH  NOVEMBER, 2019

## PROMOTION OF BIO-FERTILIZERS

- *23.       SHRI DHARAMBIR SINGH: SHRIMATI SHARDABEN ANILBHAI PATEL:

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

- (a) whether a recent study has revealed that most of the serious ailments are occurring due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides, if so, whether the Government has formulated any concrete programme for conducting a study in this regard;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to promote the use of bio-fertilizers in view of the adverse effect of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on human health and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  promote  production/research  work  on  such bio-fertilizers so as to ensure that there is no shortage of bio-fertilizers and their production remains unaffected and cost effective and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has conducted any study on the effect of bio-fertilizers on the agricultural output and if so, the outcome thereof;
- (e) the details of the schemes of the Government to promote organic/ bio-fertilizers of better quality in place of chemical fertilizers so as to avoid adverse impact on agricultural production; and
- (f) whether the Government proposes to set up outlets for organic/bio-fertilizers on the lines of outlets set up for chemical fertilizers and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी

(SHRI NARENDRA  SINGH TOMAR)

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

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 23  DUE FOR REPLY ON 19 TH  NOVEMBER, 2019.

- (a):        Government  has  been  making  concerted  efforts  through  various  programmes  to encourage farmers for judicious use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Indian Council of Medical  Research  (ICMR)  has  recently  initiated  a  multi-centric  study 'exposure  and  the health effects of pesticides' to assess the health status of population in areas with high and low pesticides usage.
- (b) to (e): Government of India has been promoting production and use of     bio fertilizers under various schemes/ programmes including Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) , Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY),    Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER ,  National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP), National Food Security Mission (NFSM)   . The details   are at Annexure 1

The effort of the Government through different interventions has resulted in increase in carrier based biofertilizer production from 88029 MT in 2015-16 to 121066 MT in 2017-18. Similarly, the liquid based biofertilizer production has increased from 6241(KL) in 2015-16 to 9033 KL in 2017-18.

ICAR under ' Network project on soil biodiversity- bio fertilizers '  has  developed improved and efficient strains of biofertilizers specific to different crops and soil types. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) study indicates that biofertilizers can improve crop yields by 10-25% and supplement costly chemical fertilizer (N, P) by nearly 20-25% in most of the crops  when used along with the chemical fertilizers.

(f): Government of India has made provisions for selling of bio-fertilizers/organic fertilizers through online jaivikkheti.in portal.  As per Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 (FCO), States can permit the sale of organic/bio-fertilizers along with chemical fertilizers at dealer's outlets of private  and  co-operative  societies.    Organic  outlets  have  been  created  by  States  like  U.P under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

## Steps taken by government for promotion of organic / biofertilisers

-  Capital  Investment  Subsidy  Scheme  (CISS): Government  of  India  promotes  the production  of  bio-fertilizers  under  Capital  Investment  Subsidy  Scheme  (CISS)  by providing  100% assistance to State Govt./ Govt.  Agencies upto a  maximum limit of Rs.160.00 lakh/ unit   for Setting up of State of art liquid/ carrier based Bio-fertilizer units  of  200  Ton  Per  Annum  (TPA)  capacity.    Similarly,  for  individuals/  private agencies assistance upto 25% of cost limited to Rs.40 lakh/unit as capital investment is provided.
-  Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Assistance of Rs 50,000 per hectare/ 3  years  is  given,  out  of  which  Rs.  31,000  (62%)  is  provided  to  the  farmers  directly through DBT, for inputs (bio-fertilizers, biopesticides, vermicompost, botanical extracts etc) production/ procurement, post harvest management etc
-  Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) :  Farmers  are  given  assistance  of  Rs25000/  ha/  3  years  for  both  onfarm & off-farm organic inputs, and seeds/ planting material.
-  National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP): Financial assistance@ 50% subsidy  to  the  tune  of  Rs.  300/-  per  ha  is  being  provided  for  different  components including  bio-fertilizers,  supply  of  Rhizobium  culture/Phosphate  Solubilising  Bacteria (PSB)/ Zinc Solubilising Bacteria(ZSB)/ Azatobacter/ Mycorrhiza and vermi compost
-  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
-  INM  &IPM : GoI  has  also  been  promoting  soil  test based  Integrated  Nutrient Management  (INM)  under Soil Health Card Programme  and  Integrated Pest management  (IPM)  practices  such  as  including          cultural,  mechanical,  biological control  of  pests  along  with  judicious  use  of  pesticides  to  control  excess  use  of fertilisers and pesticides respectively.

## ICAR Research programmes:

-  One  acre  Integrated  Organic  Farming  System  (IOFS)  models: IOFS  models suitable for marginal farmers have been established in Kerala, Meghalaya and Tamil Nadu which provides scope to generate more than 80 % of inputs required for organic farming within the farm, thus reducing the cost of production.
-  All India Network Programme on Organic Farming (AI-NPOF): Under this programme, management  package  involving  reduced  application    of  nutrients  through  manures with innovative practices are being evaluated at different locations which also includes use of bio fertilizers.

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