Lok Sabha Question No. 315 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-19
Subject: Promotion of Bio-fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Alok Kumar Suman

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

## LOK  SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 315 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH   NOVEMBER, 2019

## PROMOTION OF BIO-FERTILIZERS

## 315. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

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 the Government proposes to encourage biofertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in district Gopalganj of Bihar in view of their adverse effect of human health;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has conducted any study on the impact of usage of biofertilizers on production in district Gopalganj of Bihar; and
- (c) whether the Government would promote production/research of such bio fertilizers in rural areas of country specially in district Gopalganj of Bihar?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

- (a) to (c): Government  of  India  has  been  encouraging  use  of  bio  fertilizers  instead  of chemical fertilizers through State Governments Including in district Gopalganj of Bihar under various schemes/ programmes, viz: 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).

ICAR under ' Network project  on  soil  biodiversity-  bio  fertilizers '  has  developed improved and efficient strains of biofertilizers specific to different crops and soil types. 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 cases when used along with the chemical fertilizers.  Bihar  Agriculture  University,  Bihar  and  KVKs  including  KVK  Gopalganj are engaged in study on the impact of usage of bio-fertilizers. The details of assistance under various programmes of the department and research activities of ICAR are at Annexure - I.

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

-  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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## Annexure I