Lok Sabha Question No. 4579 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: Green Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Kirti Vardhan Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4579

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 28 TH  MARCH, 2023

## GREEN AGRICULTURE

4579.  SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is contemplating to promote Green Agriculture;
- (b) if so, the various steps taken by the Government to promote Green Agriculture; and
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  introduce  PM-PRANAM  so  as  to  promote alternative fertilisers and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) & (b): Government of India is already promoting green agriculture by way of green/ sustainable  agricultural  and  good  agriculture  practices  with  environment  concern.  It  is implementing  National  Mission  for  Sustainable  Agriculture  (NMSA)  which  is  one  of  the National Missions under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). NMSA aims to evolve and implement strategies to make Indian agriculture more resilient to the changing climate.  The  various  components  being  implemented  in  this  regard  are  Rainfed  Area Development  (RAD),  On  Farm  Water  Management  (OFWM),  Soil  Health  Management (SHM),  Soil  Health  Card  (SHC),  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY),  Mission Organic Value Chain Development in North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), Submission on Agroforestry  (SMAF)  and  Per  Drop  More  Crop  (PDMC)  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi Sinhchayee  Yojana  (PMKSY).    Rainfed  Area  Development  under  NMSA  focuses  on Integrated Farming System (IFS) for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with  climatic  variability.  Under  this  system,  crops/cropping  system  is  integrated  with activities like horticulture, livestock, fishery, agro-forestry, apiculture etc.

To  meet  the  challenges  of  sustaining  domestic  food  production  in  the  face  of changing climate, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India has launched a flagship network project called National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA). The project aims to develop and promote climate resilient technologies in agriculture to address vulnerable areas of the country  and  to  help  the  districts  and  regions  prone  to  extreme  weather  conditions  like droughts, floods, frost, heat waves, etc. to cope with such extremes. Short term and longterm  research  programs  with  a  national  perspective  have  been  taken  up  involving adaptation and mitigation covering crops, horticulture, livestock, fisheries and poultry. The main thrust areas covered are (i) identifying most vulnerable districts/regions, (ii) evolving crop  varieties  and  management  practices  for  adaptation  and  mitigation,  (iii)  assessing climate  change  impacts  on  livestock,  fisheries  and  poultry  and  identifying  adaptation strategies.

NICRA  project  has  developed  several  resilient  technologies  to  mitigate  climate change.  Climate  resilient  technologies  viz.,  resilient  varieties  in  different  crops  tolerant  to climatic stresses, resilient intercropping systems, conservation agriculture, crop diversification  from  paddy  to  other  alternate  crops  like  pulses,  oilseeds,  agroforestry systems, zero till drill sowing of wheat to escape terminal heat stress, alternate methods of rice  cultivation  (system  of  rice  intensification,  aerobic  rice,  direct  seeded  rice),  green manuring,  integrated  farming  systems,  integrated  nutrient  management,  integrated  pest management, organic farming, site specific nutrient management, in-situ moisture conservation,  protective  irrigation  from  harvested  rainwater  in  farm  pond,  micro  irrigation method (drip and sprinkler) etc. have been developed and  evaluated in farmers' fields for their adoption.

ICAR is recommending soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management practice  through  conjunctive  use  of  both  inorganic  and  organic  sources  (compost,  bio fertilizers, green manure etc.), split application of nitrogen and placement of other fertilizers, use of slow releasing fertilizers, nitrification inhibitors and use of neem coated urea etc. to reduce  the  excessive  use  of  fertilizers  and  pollution  of  soil,  water  and  environment.  The ICAR also imparts training, organises FLDs to educate farmers on all these aspects.

(c): Government has announced 'PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth' (PM-PRANAM) scheme in Budget 2023-24 with  the  objective  to  incentivise  the  States  and  UTs  to  promote  usage  of  alternative fertilizers and balanced use of chemical fertilizers.

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