Lok Sabha Question No. 985 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-08
Subject: Use of Bio-Fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 985

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 8 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## USE OF BIO-FERTILIZERS

## 985. SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

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

- (a) whether any study has revealed that most of the serious ailments are occurring due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has formulated any concrete programme  for conducting a detailed study in this regard;
- (c) 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;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to promote  production/research work on such biofertilizers  so  as  to  ensure  that  there  is  no  shortage  of  bio-fertilizers  and  their  production remains un\affected and cost-effective and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has conducted any study on the effect of bio-fertilizers on the agricultural output and if so, the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) & (b): 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 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.
- (c) & (d): Government of India has been promoting production and use of bio fertilizers under  various  schemes/  programmes  such  as,  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)  and Soil Health Management (SHM). The details are given at Annexure I .  Government initiative through different interventions has resulted in increase in production of bio-fertilizers (carrier based) from 88029 MT in 2015-16 to 134322 MT in 2020-21.

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

## Steps taken by government to promote use of bio-fertilizers under various schemes/ programme:

- a. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Rs. 31,000 / ha/ 3 years   is provided to the farmers  directly  through  DBT,  for  inputs  (bio-fertilizers,  bio-pesticides,  vermin-compost, botanical extracts etc)
- b. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) : Farmers are given assistance of RS 32500 ha/ 3 years for both on-farm & offfarm organic inputs
- c. National  Mission  on  Oilseeds  and  Oil  Palm  (NMOOP): Financial  assistance  upto    Rs. 300/- per ha is being provided for different components including bio-fertilizers
- d. Soil  Health  Management  (SHM): To  enable  farmers  to  access  bio-fertilizers  easily  and locally,  financial assistance is given to States for Setting up / strengthening of Bio-fertilizer Production units with a capacity of 200 TPA/ 50000 LPA at the rate of Rs.160 lakh per unit for setting  up  new units and Rs.50 lakh per unit for strengthening of existing units. So far, 15 new  units  and  strengthening  of  31  units  have  sanctioned  under  the  scheme  for  which Rs.11.51 crore and Rs.8.44 crore respectively released to States.

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