Lok Sabha Question No. 3360 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-21
Subject: Soil Degeneration
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: S. Gnanathiraviam

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3360

## TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 st  MARCH, 2023

## SOIL DEGENERATION

3360. SHRI GNANATHIRAVIAM S.:

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

(a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  indiscriminate  use  of  chemical  fertilizers  has  caused  various degenerations in the soil;

(b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether it is also a fact that treatment of soil is required to enhance the agro-productivity in the country; and

(d)  if  so,  the  total  number  of  laboratories  working  for  soil  testing  in  the  country  till  March 2010, and the testing capacity thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## क ृ िष एवं िकसान काण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (d): As such, there is no harmful effect of chemical fertilizers with balanced and judicious  use  as  per  recommendations.  However,  imbalanceduse  of  chemical  fertilizers coupled with low addition of organic matter over years may  cause  multi-nutrient deficiencies in soil. There is also possibility of nitrate contamination in groundwater above the  permissible  limit  of  10  mg  NO3-N/L  due  to  excessive  use  of  nitrogenous  fertilizers particularly  in  light  textured  soils.  Government  is  making  endeavour  to promote  judicious use of chemical fertilizers, bio-fertilizers and locally available organic manures.  To achieve this objective, Government is implementing Soil Health Card Scheme since 2015 to provide soil  test  based  fertilizer  use  recommendations  on  appropriate  dosage  of  nutrients  to  be appliedperiodically to the farmers for improving soil health and its agro-productivity.

Demonstrations about balanced use of fertilizers based on soil health card recommendations and training to the farmers on proper and integrated use of fertilizers are integral part of the scheme. Government of India is providingfinancial assistance to the State Governments for training of farmers, demonstration on farmer fields and organizing farmer melas.Since  2015,  around  6.45  lakh  demonstrations,  93781  farmers'  trainings  and  7425 farmers  melas  are  organized/conducted  under  the  programme.    State/District  agriculture machinery  and  panchayats,  village  level  rural  development  workers  are  involved  in educating  farmers  on  the  right  use  of  fertilizers.    Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research (ICAR) also imparts training, organizes from line demonstrations to educate farmers on all these aspects.   Farmers are also being encouraged to use technology i.e. drones etc. in fertilizer application in order to ensure optimal use of fertilizer.

For development of sustainable agriculture Government has been promoting organic farming  in  the  country  since  2015-16  through  the  schemes  of  Paramparagat  Krishi VikasYojana  (PKVY)  and  Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  Development  for  North  Eastern Region  (MOVCDNER).  Both  the  schemes  promote  use  of  bio  fertilizers  and  organic fertilizers  for  adoption  of  organic  farming  and  end  to  end  support  to  farmers  engaged  in organic  farming  i.e.  from  production  to  processing,  certification  and  marketing  and  postharvest management support including processing. PKVY is being implemented in all the States other-than North Eastern (NE) States, across the country. MOVCDNER scheme is implemented  exclusively  in  the  NE  States.  Under  PKVY,  farmers  are  provided  financial assistance of Rs.50000/ha for 3 years out of which, Rs.31000/ ha / 3 years is provided as incentives directly to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for on-farm and off-farm organic inputs including bio-fertilizers and organic fertilizers. Whereas, under MOVCDNER, an  assistance  of  Rs.46575/ha  for  3years  is  provided  for  creation  of  Farmer  Producer Organization (FPO), support to farmers for organic inputs, quality seeds/ planting material and  training,  hand  holding  and  certification,  out  of  which  Rs.32500/  ha  for  3years  is provided  as  incentives  to  farmers  for  off-farm  and  on-farm  organic  inputs  including  biofertilizers and organic fertilizers.

511 static soil testing laboratories (analyzing capacity @ 10000 samples per annum per laboratory), 123 mobile soil testing laboratories (analyzing capacity @ 5000 samples per annum per laboratory),8811 mini soil testing laboratories (analyzing capacity @ 3000 samples  per  annum  per  laboratory) and2395  village level soil testing laboratories (analyzing  capacity  @  3000  samples  per  annum  per  laboratory)  have  been  sanctioned under the scheme to States since the launch of the scheme i.e. from the year 2015.

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