Lok Sabha Question No. 1086 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-13
Subject: Use of Bio-Fertilizers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Kanakmal Katara

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1086

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 13 Th  DECEMBER, 2022

## USE OF BIO-FERTILIZERS

1086.  SHRI KANAKMAL KATARA:

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

(a) the  funds  allocated  under  various  schemes  to  promote  the  use  of  bio-fertilizers across the country, State-wise including Rajasthan;

(b) the details of the production of major crops achieved during the last three years using bio-fertilizers vis-a-vis chemical fertilizers in the country, State-wise; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government to popularize the use of bio-fertilizers among the farmers in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

(a) & (b): Under  the  Soil  Health  &  Fertility  component  of  RKVY,  bio-fertilizers  are promoted  through  provisions  of  financial  assistance  for  strengthening  of  infrastructure  for production and quality control. The scheme is proposal driven and assistance is granted on the basis of proposals submitted by states for setting up Bio-fertilizers Unit and Bio/Organic fertilizer Quality Control lab.

The State-wise consolidated financial assistance given since 2014-15 for establishment  of  Bio-fertilizers  Unit  and  Bio/Organic  fertilizer  Quality  Control  lab  in  the country under Soil Health & Fertility of RKVY is given at Annexure-I

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed improved and efficient strains  of  bio-fertilizers  specific  to  different  crops  and  soil  types  under  All  India  Network Project (AINP) on Soil Biodiversity-Bio-fertilizers and has also developed Liquid bio-fertilizer technology  with  higher  shelf-life.  ICAR  has  informed  that  Bio-fertilizers  can  improve  crop yields by 10-25% and supplement costly chemical fertilizers (N, P) by nearly 20-25% in most of the cases when used along with chemical fertilizers.

O.I.H.

(c): Bio-fertilizers are promoted through Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) and are made  integral  part  of  package  of  practices  developed  by  ICAR  and  State  Agriculture Universities. The ICAR also imparts training to educate farmers on use of bio-fertilizers.

Under  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikash  Yojana  (PKVY),  farmers  are  provided  financial assistance of Rs 31000/ ha for 3 years through DBT for on-farm and off-farm organic inputs including bio-fertilizer. Under Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region  (MOVCDNER),  financial  assistance  @  Rs  32500/  ha  for  3  years  is  provided  to farmers  for  off  farm  /on  -farm  organic  inputs  including  bio-fertilizer.  Moreover,  under National Food Security Mission (NFSM), provision has been made to provide assistance for supply of Bio-Fertilizer @ Rs.300 /ha or 50% of the cost whichever is less.

Further,  National  Centre  of  Organic  and  Natural  Farming  (NCNOF),  organizes various Trainings and awareness programs for farmers and various other stakeholders to promote organic and natural farming including educating them about the use of bio-fertilizers in their fields. NCONF has developed literature on use of bio-fertilizers which is distributed to farmers and other stakeholders during exhibitions, Krishi Melas' and other events organized for promotion of organic and natural farming activities.

Annexure - I

State-wise consolidated financial assistance given since 2014-15 for establishment of Bio-fertilizers Unit and Bio/Organic fertilizer Quality Control lab in the country under Soil Health & Fertility of RKVY

(Rs. In lakh)

| S. No   | State             | Bio-fertilizer Production Units   | Bio/ Organic-fertilizer Quality Control Lab   |
|---------|-------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| 1       | Arunachal Pradesh | 36.00                             | 19.13                                         |
| 2       | Assam             | 23.43                             | 89.25                                         |
| 3       | Chhattisgarh      | 48.00                             | 76.50                                         |
| 4       | Haryana           | 92.16                             | -                                             |
| 5       | Meghalaya         | 108.00                            | -                                             |
| 6       | Nagaland          | 504.00                            | 95.63                                         |
| 7       | Sikkim            | 144.00                            | 76.50                                         |
| 8       | Tamil Nadu        | 144.00                            | 76.50                                         |
| 9       | Telangana         | 144.00                            | 76.50                                         |
| 10      | Tripura           | 108.00                            | -                                             |
| 11      | Uttar Pradesh     | 160.00                            | -                                             |
| 12      | Andhra Pradesh    | -                                 | 76.50                                         |
| 13      | Gujarat           | -                                 | 38.25                                         |
| 14      | J & K             | -                                 | 76.50                                         |
| 15      | Jharkhand         | -                                 | 38.25                                         |
| 16      | Puducherry        | -                                 | 50.00                                         |
| 17      | Punjab            | -                                 | 11.25                                         |
| 18      | West Bengal       | -                                 | 63.75                                         |
|         | Total             | 1511.59                           | 864.51                                        |

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