Lok Sabha Question No. 4239 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-29
Subject: Adoption of ZBNF
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Kani K. Navas, Keshari Devi Patel

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4239

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29 th  MARCH, 2022

## ADOPTION OF ZBNF

4239: SHRI  K.  NAVASKANI: SHRIMATI KESHARI DEVI PATEL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps to ensure that farmers adopt ZeroBudget Natural Farming (ZBNF), which aims to bring down the input costs by shifting farmers  reliance  on  natural  inputs,  rather  than  on  agricultural  chemicals  such  as pesticides and fertilizers;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the number of farmers who have been encouraged to do ZBNF during the period from 2019 to 2022;
- (e) whether  the  farmers  are  losing  interest  in  agriculture  as  they  are  not  earning profit in conformity with the day-by-day increasing agricultural cost; and
- (f) if so, the steps taken to address the said issue and the details of the steps taken to double the income of farmers?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)    to  (e): Government is implementing Bhartiya Prakritik  Krishi  Padhati  (BPKP) introduced  during  2020-21  as  a  sub  scheme  of  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana (PKVY) for the promotion of traditional indigenous practices including Natural Farming to  bring  down  the  input  costs  .  The  scheme  mainly  emphasises  on  exclusion  of  all synthetic chemical inputs and promotes on-farm biomass recycling with major stress on biomass mulching, use of cow dung-urine formulations and other plant-based preparations. Training through capacity  building is  integral part  of  the  scheme. Under BPKP, financial assistance of Rs 12200/ha for 3 years is provided for cluster formation, capacity building and continuous handholding by trained personnel, certification and

residue analysis. An area of 4.09 lakh ha area has been covered under natural farming and  a  total  fund  of  Rs.  4980.99  lakh  has  been  released  to  8  States  namely  Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha,  Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu while an area of 5.68 lakh ha have also been approved for 3 States namely Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan & Uttar Pradesh. The State -wise details of funds released, area covered, no. of  farmers  and crops grown under natural farming BPKP is given at Annexure - I.

Evidence  from  implementation  of  Natural  Farming  (NF)  from  various  parts  of  the country indicates that shift towards NF helps in lowering the input cost.

(f): The  Government  constituted  an  Inter-Ministerial  Committee  in  April,  2016  to examine issues relating to 'Doubling of Farmers Income' and recommend strategies to achieve the  same.  The  committee  submitted  its  Report  to  the  Government  in September, 2018. After acceptance of DFI Committee recommendations, the Government has constituted an 'Empowered Body' to review and monitor the progress

Agriculture  being  a  State  Subject,  the  State  Government  take  appropriate measures for development of agriculture in the State.  However, Government of India supplements the effort  of  States  through  appropriate  policy  measures  and  budgetary support  and  various  scheme/programmes.  The  various  schemes/programmes  of  the Government of  India  are  meant  for  the  welfare  of  farmers  by  increasing  production, remunerative returns and income support to farmers.

The  Government  has  adopted  several  developmental  programmes,  schemes, reforms  and  policies  that  focus  on  higher  income  for  the  farmers.  All  these  police  & programmes  are  being  supported  by  higher  budgetary  allocation,  non-budgetary financial resources such as creating Corpus Funds like Micro Irrigation fund etc. There has  been  several  reforms  to  unleash  the  potential,  e.g.  Formation  and  Promotion  of 10,000  FPOs  along  with  necessary  financial  support  under  Atma  Nirbhar  Package (Agriculture). Under Atma Nirbhar Bharat special attention is being paid for creation of infrastructure for which 'Agri Infrastructure Fund (AIF) has been created with a size of Rs.  100,00  crore.  Other  special  initivatives  include  Supplementary  Income  transfers under PM-KISAN; Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY); Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY); Increase in Minimum Support Price (MSPs) for all Kharif & Rabi  Crops  ensuring  a  minimum  of  50  percent  of  profit  margin  on  the  cost  of production, Bee-Keeping; Rashtriya Gokul Mission; Blue Revolution; Interest Subvention Scheme; Kisan Credit Card (KCC) that now offers production loan to even dairy &  fishery  framers besides  agricultural crops  etc.  The  adoption  of  Drone technologies  in  agriculture  has  a  potential  to  revolutionize  the  Indian  agriculture.  In order  to  make  Drone  technology  affordable  to  the  farmers  and  other  stakeholders  of this  sector,  financial  assistance  @  100%  cost  of  drone  together  with  the  contingent expenditure is extended to ICAR/SAU State governments/ State government Institutions under Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM) for its demonstration on the farmer's fields.

## Annexure- I

## State -wise details of funds released and area covered and crops grown under Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhthi (BPKP)

| Sl. No.   | States           |   Area in Ha |   Amount released (Rs in lakh) | No of farmers (in nos.)   | Crops under natural farming                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------|------------------|--------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh   |       100000 |                         750    | 6,30000                   | Maize, Groundnut Cashew, Citrus, Palmoil, Tomato, Cotton, Paddy                                                                                                                                                                               |
| 2.        | Chhattisgarh     |        85000 |                        1352.52 | -                         | Rice,Wheat, Pulses                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| 3.        | Kerala           |        84000 |                        1336.6  | 2,10348                   | Paddy, Banana, Leafy Vegetables, Cucurbits, Solanaceous varieties, Bhindi, Cool Season Vegetables, Spices and Condiments., Tubers Coconut based inter crops garden like fruit plans, cocoa, nutmeg, coffee, Cashew, Pepper, Coconut, Arecanut |
| 4.        | Himachal Pradesh |        12000 |                         286.42 | 1,71654                   | Wheat, Maize, Peas, Apple, Stone fruits, Pulses, paddy, coriander and other leafy vegetables                                                                                                                                                  |
| 5         | Jharkhand        |         3400 |                          54.1  | 4000                      | Paddy, Wheat, vegetables , pulses, oilseeds                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| 6.        | Odisha           |        24000 |                         381.89 | 22691                     | Rice, Turmeric, Ginger and Pulses                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| 7.        | Madhya Pradesh   |        99000 |                         787.64 | -                         | Wheat, Rice, Pulses, Soyabean,                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| 8.        | Tamil Nadu       |         2000 |                          31.82 | 70                        | Vegetable crops                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Total     | Total            |       409400 |                        4980.99 | 1,038,763                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |

********