Lok Sabha Question No. 1582 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-02
Subject: Use of Bio-Fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Darshana Vikram Jardosh

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

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1582 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  JULY, 2019

## USE OF BIO-FERTILIZERS

1582.  SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी

be pleased to state:

- (a) the details  of  action  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  encourage  the use  of  biofertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers; and
- (b) whether there is any specific scheme for use of bio-fertilizers available for farmers and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) & (b): Government  of  India  has  initiated  a  number  of  steps  for      encouraging/ promoting the use of bio fertilizers in place of chemical by providing assistance/ incentives for  production/ procurement  under various schemes/ programmes viz.
-  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY):      assistance  of  Rs  50,000  per  hectare/  3 years is given, out of which Rs. 31,000 (61%) is provided to the farmers directly through DBT,  for  inputs  (bio  fertilisers,  biopesticides,  vermicompost,  botanical  extracts  etc) production/ procurement, post harvest infrastructure etc.
-  Under Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) farmers are given assistance of Rs 7500/ha/3 years for on-farm and offfarm organic inputs, production/ procurement
-  Soil  Health  Cards  (SHCs):  100%  assistance  is  provided  to  State  Government  / Government agencies for  setting  up  of  liquid/  carrier  based  Bio-fertilizer/  Bio-pesticide units to up to a maximum limit of Rs.160.00 lakh / unit for Government agencies and up to  Rs.40  lakh/unit  (up  to  25%  project  cost)  for  individuals/  private  agencies  through NABARD

-  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.
-  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  through  its  Plan  Scheme  'Network Project on Organic Farming' (NPOF) is undertaking research to grow crops using only organic fertilizers/ bio-fertilizers and through its planned scheme 'Network project on soil biodiversity- bio fertilizers' has developed improved and efficient strains of biofertilizers, specific to different crops and soil types. Liquid biofertilizer technology with higher selflife has also been developed. Presently, the project is being implemented in 16 centres covering  14  States.  The  ICAR  also  imparts  training  to  educate  farmers  on  organic fertilizers/ bio-fertilizers.

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