Lok Sabha Question No. 1648 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-02
Subject: Modernisation of Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Gurjeet Singh Aujla

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1648

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND   JULY, 2019

## MODERNISATION  OF AGRICULTURE

1648.    SHRI GURJEET SINGH AUJLA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has formulated a pilot project/plan or scheme for  upgradation and  modernisation  of agriculture especially in the States where soil  quality  and  water  table are deteriorating;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is considering to initiate a strict plan/scheme to check the sale of adulterated and fake fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides etc. to save  further  damage  to soil,  water, environment  and  save  farmers  from financial loss and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the    measures    taken    by    the  Government  to  tackle  straw  burning  issues  and    to provide  cheap  equipment  for  the management of left over straws?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

- (a) & (b):     Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is engaged in developing modern agricultural  techniques  using  geo-informatics  including  GIS  &  Remote  Sensing,  Information Technology (IT), simulation modeling, nano science,  biotechnology etc. in effective monitoring, conservation and management of natural resources viz. soil and water.

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 every 2 years so that nutrient deficiencies are identified and corrective steps taken.

Government  is  implementing  Per  Drop  More  Crop  (PDMC)  component  of  Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna (PMKSY) which is operational in the country from 2015-16.  The PMKSY-PDMC focuses on water use efficiency at farm level through precision/ Micro Irrigation technologies viz.  drip and sprinkler Irrigation.  Micro irrigation technology not only helps in water saving, but also in reducing fertilizer usage thereby improving soil health, labour expenses, and other inputs and increasing productivity. Under PMKSY-PDMC, an area of 36.20 lakh has been covered under Micro Irrigation in the country from 2015-16 to     2018-19.

(c): Government  has  already  declared  fertilisers  as  an  essential  commodity  under  the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and has promulgated the Fertiliser (Control) Order, 1985 to regulate  the  trade,  price,  quality  and  distribution  of  fertilizers.  Specifications  of  fertilizers  are prescribed in the said Order. No person shall sell, sale, offer for sale or distribute any fertiliser which is not of prescribed standard. Clause 19 of the FCO strictly prohibits the sale of fertilizers which  are  not  of  prescribed  standards.  Samples  of  fertilizers  are  drawn  periodically  by  the fertiliser  inspectors  of  the  State  Governments  from  retailers/wholesalers  and  manufacturing units  etc.  for  testing  in  the  notified  laboratories  to  check  their  quality  in  respect  of  the  quality parameters prescribed in the FCO, 1985. State Governments are empowered under the FCO / Essential  Commodities  Act,  1955  to  take  appropriate  administrative  and  legal  action  against those dealers/manufactures/importers who do not comply with the provisions prescribed in the Order.

There are 85 fertiliser testing laboratories in the country for testing fertilizer samples.

Government has enacted the Insecticides Act, 1968 to regulate the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides.  As  per  the Insecticides Act, 1968, the monitoring of quality of pesticides is a shared responsibility between the Central and State  Governments.  Central  Government  and  State  Governments  have  notified  Insecticides Inspectors to  check sale  of  misbranded  pesticides.  Insecticide  samples  are  drawn on regular basis and analyzed in State Pesticides Testing Laboratories (SPTLs) and at the two Regional Pesticides  Testing  Laboratories  at  Chandigarh  and  Kanpur.  Action  is  initiated  under  the provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968 against those samples which are found misbranded.

(d): In  order  to  prevent  burning  of  crop  residues,    Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research (ICAR)  recommended  certain  technological  interventions  namely  in-situ  incorporation  of  crop residue  through  conservation  agriculture  practices,  rapid  composting  of  crop  residue  using microbial  consortia,  production  of  bio  gas,    mushroom  cultivation,    preparation  of  feed  for livestock,  production of bio-fuel and biochar. The ICAR also imparts training to educate farmers on all these aspects.

To support the efforts of the Governments of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and the NCT of Delhi to address air pollution due to stubble burning and to subsidize machinery for the farmers for in-situ management of crop residue, a new Central Sector Scheme on  Promotion of Agricultural  Mechanization  for  In-Situ  Management  of  Crop  Residue  in  the  States  of  Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi for the period from 2018-19 to 2019-20 has been launched with a total outgo from Central funds of Rs.1191.62 (Rs.591.62 crore in 2018-19 and Rs.600.00 crore in 2019-20).  Funds released are as follows:

| Year wise Funds released in Crores   |   Punjab |   Haryana |   Uttar Pradesh |
|--------------------------------------|----------|-----------|-----------------|
| 2018-19                              |   269.38 |    137.84 |          148.6  |
| 2019-20 (till date)                  |   248    |    173    |           96.95 |

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