Lok Sabha Question No. 934 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-13
Subject: Over use of Fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: M. P. Abdussamad Samadani, Arun Kumar Sagar, Dulal Chandra Goswami, Krupal Balaji Tumane, Bhavana Gawali (Patil)

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 934

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 13 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## OVER USE OF FERTILIZERS

- 934 . DR. M.P. ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:

SHRI ARUN KUMAR SAGAR:

SHRI DULAL CHAND GOSWAMI:

SHRI KRUPAL BALAJI TUMANE:

SHRIMATI BHAVANA PUNDALIKARO GAWALI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has analysed the issue of excessive use of fertilizers and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  control  and  regulate  the  use  of  fertilizers considering the damage caused to soil by excessive use of fertilizer and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to maintain the block-wise data of soil health and if so, the details of the action taken on the said issue;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to restrict or control the use of fertilizers considering the nature of soil and if so, the details of the action taken on the said issue;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to withdraw fertilizers subsidy and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government will take the necessary steps to promote organic fertilizers and strengthen the production and distribution of the same?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ षि एवं षकसान कल्याण मंत्री ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR )

- (a) to  (d):    In order to avoid excessive use and to promote balanced and integrated use of fertilizers, Soil Health Card Scheme had been introduced in 2015 to assist State Governments

to issue Soil Health Cards to farmers in the country.  Soil Health Card provides information to farmers on nutrients status of their soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility.  Possibility of excessive use of  fertilizers  generally  arises  when  it  is  applied  without  proper  assessment  of  nutrient requirement of crop, contribution from soil and other sources, nutrients use efficiency of the fertilizers, availability of assured irrigation, mode, method and time of applications and policy. The  Government  of  India  is  suggesting  soil  test  based  balanced  and  integrated  nutrient management  through  conjunctive  use  of  both  inorganic  and  organic  sources  (manure, biofertilizers  etc.)    of  plant  nutrients  to  overcome  indiscriminate/over  use  of  fertilizers.  In addition, split application and placement of fertilizers, use of slow releasing N-fertilizers and nitrification  inhibitors,  growing  leguminous  crops  and  use  of  Resource  Conservation Technologies (RCTs) are also suggested.   In order to promote use of organic fertilizers, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has developed technology to prepare various types of organic manures such as phosphocompost, vermincompost, bio-enriched compost, municipal solid waste compost, etc. from various organic wastes.  The ICAR also imparts training, organizes Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) etc. to educate farmers on all these aspects as and when required.

The block-wise data of Soil Health (Soil nutrients) is available on soil health card portal  (https://www.soilhealth.dac.gov.in/)    which  is  uploaded  by  States  up  to  farm  land holding level.

(e):      At present, there is no such proposal to withdraw fertilizer subsidy.

(f): Government is implementing a Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana to promote organic fertilizers. Under this scheme, financial assistance @ Rs.050 lakh per hectare. for 3 years including Rs.0.31 lakh for organic inputs like, organic fertilizers; is provided to farmers. The Government is promoting soil health management awareness through organizing National / Regional workshops/ trainings on soil testing and as well as providing financial assistance for demonstration on nutrients need based balanced fertilization and use of organic manures/fertilizers. To involve the farmers in balanced use of fertilizers, they are provided training on awareness to understand the nutrient / fertilizer recommendations given in soil health card. Based on soil test, the farmers are motivated to use micronutrients recommended in the soil health card.

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