Lok Sabha Question No. 40 (STARRED), answered on 2022-07-19
Subject: Use of Bio-Fertilizers and Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Y. S. Avinash Reddy

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 40

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH     JULY, 2022

## USE OF BIO- FERTILIZERS AND PESTICIDES

- *40. SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:
- Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:
- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  promote  the  use  of  bio-fertilizers  and pesticides in agriculture;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  volume  of  increase  in  crop  yield  achieved  by  the  use  of  bio-fertilizers  and pesticides during the last three years;
- (d) the  course  of  action  chalked  out  by  the  Government  to  augment  the  use  of  biofertilizers and pesticides in the country; and
- (e) the steps taken/ being taken to curtail the use of chemicals and promote the use of bio-fertilizers?

## ANSWER

- MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR) (a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT IN  RESPECT  OF  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO. *40 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 19.07.2022 REGARDING 'USE OF BIOFERTILIZERS AND PESTICIDES'

(a) to (e): Government is promoting the use of bio-fertilizers under organic farming in the  country  through  dedicated  schemes  namely  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana (PKVY)  and  Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  Development  for  North  Eastern  Region (MOVCDNER)  since  2015-16.    Bio-fertilizers  are  also  promoted  through  Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) and are made integral part of package of practices developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and State Agriculture Universities.

In  order  to  promote  use  of  bio-fertilizers,  ICAR  has  developed  improved  and efficient  strains  of  bio-fertilizers  specific  to  different  crops  and  soil  types  under  Network project on Soil Biodiversity-Bio-fertilizers.  The ICAR imparts training to educate farmers on  use  of  bio-fertilizers.  Moreover,  ICAR  -  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs)  also  conduct training  for  farmers  on  Integrated  Nutrient  Management  (INM)  and  Integrated  Pest Management (IPM) practices to promote balanced use of fertilizers and pesticides.

Government is also implementing the 'Sub-Mission on Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine' through 35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centers located in 28 States and 2 UTs  with a mandate to popularize adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) through  training  and  demonstration  in  crops,  inter-alia  promotion  of  biological  control approaches  in  crop  protection  technology  with  major  emphasis  on  judicious  use  of chemical  pesticide  as  a  last  resort,  safety  in  use  of  pesticides,  alternate  tools  for  pest management viz; cultural, physical, mechanical methods of pest control as well as use of bio-pesticides and bio-control agents.

The  study  conducted  by  Indian  Council  of  Agriculture  Research  under  Network project on Soil Biodiversity-Bio-fertilizers has confirmed that yield of crop increases by the use of bio-fertilizers and pesticides.

Under Soil Health Management (SHM), assistance upto Rs 160 lakh /unit (200MT capacity)  is  provided  to  State  Governments  for  establishment  of  bio-fertilizer  production unit on 60:40 sharing between GoI and State Government.

To minimize use of pesticides and to augment use of bio-fertilizers Government is promoting organic farming under PKVY, MOVCDNER and various other schemes in the country which are given at Annexure I.

## Steps taken by government to augment use of bio/ fertilizers through various schemes.

-  Paramparagat Krishi Vikash Yojana (PKVY): Under PKVY Government is providing assistance  of  RS  50,000  /ha  /  3  years  out  of  which  Rs  31,000  is  provided  directly through  DBT  for  procurement/  on-farm  production  of  organic  inputs  including  biofertilizers.
-  Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER): Under MOVCDNER, farmers are provided Rs 32500/ha for 3 years for on-farm production/ procurement of organic inputs including bio-fertilizers.
-  Soil  Health  Management  (SHM) :  Government  is  providing  Rs  160  lakh  /unit  for establishment  of  bio-fertilizer  production  unit  (200MT  capacity)  to  State  Government which is shared on 60:40 ratios between GoI and State Government. 15 bio-fertilizer production units have been established under SHM
-  National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP): Financial assistance@ 50% subsidy  to  the  tune  of  Rs.  300/-  per  ha  is  being  provided  for  different  components including  bio-fertilizers,  supply  of  Rhizobium  culture/Phosphate  Solubilising  Bacteria (PSB)/ Zinc Solubilising Bacteria(ZSB)/ Azatobacter/ Mycorrhiza and vermi compost
-  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM): Under  NFSM,  financial  assistance  is provided for promotion of Bio-Fertilizer (Rhizobium/ PSB) @50% of the cost limited to Rs.300 per ha.
-  Based on ICAR recommendation Government is promoting soil test based balanced and  integrated  nutrient  management  through  conjunctive  use  of  both  inorganic  and organic  sources  (manure,  bio-fertilizers  etc.)  of  plant  nutrients  to  improve  soil  health and fertility.

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